Saturday Crock of Short and Mucky Crocs

Attempting to change my internally routed gear cable proved more difficult than previously imagined. This is no longer a simple trail-side fix.  Ended up being a right pain, but I got there in the end. I ended up strapping a torch to the downtube, shining through one of the bottle rack mount holes, then used a spoke to guide the end of the cable to the hole exit hole (below the bottom bracket).  A remedy to this problem would be to insert a full length outer, which I may well do eventually.

Due to my troubles, Nelson had detoured to mine to potentially assist, but I'd got it sorted before he arrived, so we schlepped out, convoyed across to Halswell Quarry and rode up through the dog park into the trail network.

Straight into Dowload, then up C2.  I was getting wheezy, so stopped for a puff on one of the hairpin corners, then while we were looking over the edge of the clay cliffs I managed to drop my puffer.  This required a scramble down the bank.  Back on the bikes climbing up.

Decided to drop down Murph's, which was fun, a bit rougher than it's been in the past.  Out the bottom and we headed up Upper Crust, which zigs and zags, I think nicer than C2, crossing Murphs near the top.

Back onto the Crocodile climb, taking the high road up, up, up, and finding a new line built earlier this year, that takes you off the original trail after the Deviation turn off, and zigs and zags a bit more, keeping the up for up and the down for down.  Nice!  Up into Low Road and climbing climbing, new bits here too, new fence crossing at about the water-tank, and then up the last to the top.  Siberia:  dropped over this down, trees cleared from next to this, biiig piles of swag ready for fires (we reckoned they should burn one at a time and have dance parties.  Or an even, bike race while they burn...).

Into Ange's Climb, zig and zag.  Pretty sure I swore I'd never do that again, but it wasn't so bad this time.  Over and back to the top again, ready for the descent.  Dropped into Low Road descent, usual droppy fun, gaining speed towards the new fence.  Then into the new sweepy lines back and forth across the slope towards the gate and lots of off camber corners.  Still settling in, and not really properly formed yet. 

Into the top of the Crocodile, dropping rapidly down this, crossing over and dropping down into Deviation - the start of which was dodgy as hell.  Frost damp splecky slick dirt, traction was potentially terrible, but we both spotted it and entered carefully.  Proceeded up Deviation, feeling the splecks on the back in the shady southfacing would-have-been-frosted-hard section before dropping zigs and zags towards the top of the old Croc and into the trees, where we coasted down Elegator.

Straight back into the climb of the Croc, back up to the top of Spurious, and down this, Down and Out, through the still-frosty bottomlands, Upload, back up the Croc, again, and this time at the top Nelson did Coopers Creek while I decided not to (didn't like the look of the entry drop, not that it's that bad), so I followed off down Spurious again, through the bottom and back up Upload, deciding to finish here, and head down back down to the cars to finish.

A bit uppy downy 10 kms with only 272 m climbed.

Wednesday Night Three Laps Old Skool

O, Jet and me headed across to meet Nelson at the end of Bowenvale Ave, 5.45pmish by the time we'd gotten through traffic.

Headed up the valley, O flying off ahead, Nelson not far behind him, and me gasping away at the rear.  Bunch of runners had started same time as us, and we'd passed them, then one by one a few of them got past me by the time we got to Hidden Valley Link Bonus.  Up into there, feeling warmed up now, going okay.  Passing O in the steeps in the trees.  Then onto the Old Skool.  Very dark, and so Jet couldn't see anything, and O rode with him going his pace.  If you left him behind he'd take forever, but if he was with you, he'd get along a bit quicker.  Greasy in spots, but a good flow down, regrouping periodically.

Lap two, back up the valley, O slowing down a bit now, and dropping back a bit up into Hidden.  Cleaned all this up this time and then regrouped at the pylon.  Around and my gears were a bit shifty.  At the high point flipped the bike and we found my cable is hanging on by a couple of threads, hence the change in performance.  Headed down.  At the cattlestop (where the stile used to be) we stopped and O nearly crashed off getting a bit sideways on the bars.  Then I sent him off behind Nelson and I rode with the dog.  Again, if I got ahead, he'd slow right down, finding his way by smell.  So, I rode slow with him for bits, then got ahead and then waited.  Repeat most of the way down.

At the bottom, O didn't wanna do another lap, and because Jet was a pain, they headed to the car, and we headed on back up.  Granny most of the way cos 3rd to 6th messed about.  Not a bad climb, but was feeling more tired.  Into the down and I tried to stay on Nelson's tail.  He had both lights, but I only had my head, so was definitely harder.  Good bomb with better flow through the lower corners.  Then out the bottom and back to a very steamed up car.

MMR crapped out (behaving stupidly, look at the climb?), but by my reckoning it was rougly 10 kms, and around 360-400 m climbed - here's Nelson's - take out 4kms and 40 odd m of climb and you've got mine).

Sunday Mt Grey with Jet and O

Had chucked on a new front tire, Surly Dirt Wizard, 3.0 inch, on Saturday and, also, first ride on the chainguide I'd got from Josh - so was ready to test.

Headed out of town with O and Jet in the Roomy-On(-the-inside)-mobile and we bombed on up to "Lake" Janet.

2.11 pm, headed up the forestry road then cut into the 'new' single-track link to the walking track zig zag climb.  A few wind throws messed us about at the entrance, which was mildly annoying, but was all clear once we were on the proper track.  Met a couple and a small group and a solo woman as we climbed.  Bloody hard work this climb, reflected in our 7.9 kph average speed.  Still ill, but on the tail end of a cold, I nearly died several times, thought I was gonna have a heart attack at one point.  Felt like absolute garbage.  Eventually we made the look out tower and headed up the road instead of the singletrack.  Not much easier, I don't think.  And the upper km was all in a freezing northerly foggy cloud, quite bitter, and here was us both with insufficient layers.  Brrr...  Jet enjoyed every inch of his journey.  About an hour to the top.

Into the descent, fun down the first steep and onto traversing benched singletrack; all the fun.  Bomb bomb bomb, wet spots, hairpins cleaned or not cleaned as well as last time.  Down the rocky bit and into the forest for switchback City.  Jet loving every minute, O not quite as convinced, not really enjoying the corners but loving the rest.  Vaguely warmer down in the forest, but still pretty chilly.  Close encounter with a kereru at the creek crossing.  Then around onto the ridge, and bombing through the pine bit, then switchback City again, and around through the mudmire, which wasn't nearly as mucky as I'd usually expect it.  Was actually pretty good, with only one dabby bit near the bottom.  Into the lower beech, fun exposure, and bomby roots, all pretty dry and smooth sailing.  Finally, out the bottom reaches and onto the road, mission accomplished, bar the climb back to the car.  About an hour from top to bottom, maybe less?

Climbing.  Road.  Ugh.  Painful this was, long and slow.  Took us a while, but got there in the end.  Back at the car maybe 4.30ish? 
One happy pooch!

On the road a fair bit before 5, and home well before 6

Totals, 13 km, with 653 m climbed, 1 hour 38 minutes total riding time.

Wednesday Night Pre-Trust Gusty Pea-soup Muss

Drove up and awaited Nelson's arrival on Stonyridge - he was running a little later than me from a Physio session.  Horrible bitter wind blasting through here, so stayed in the car til he arrived.

On the bikes, still enough daylight, and headed up the streets to the old gate on Upper Major Hornbro, and off up under the pylons, visibility due to lack of light a bit of a struggle, also, the bitterly cold wind making it a struggle too.   Up to the top, and then as we rode round to get over to Broadleaf, we entered the fog and visibility got nasty.

No problem on the climbing, but once we hit the descent, it was tough work picking your way down.  Ended up turning off the handlebar and running the head light on low for a start...  Lower down, in the tussocks I tried a bit of handlebar which worked.  Still, no where near the usual speed.

Then into Greenwood, and down through the top rocky sections, around the various bends, and we started to get below the fog down in here.  Lights on brighter and going got a bit better.  Some heinous headwinds approaching Gloomy Gulch, and I lost my mojo/flow right through there.  Nelson was waiting and we got rolling again and it a bit got better.  Then, down in Dangerous Dave's dug-outs, one of the corners was porridge.  Nelson had warned me so I popped off the track and scooted around the inside.  Lower down was all good, flow and groove.  One adjustment to light made near the bottom.  Then the new final bit down to the road.  One nasty off camber corner, and then lots of water on track right at the end.

Onto the road and climbing, head wind, no wind, head wind, tail wind, head wind, one car, me struggling a bit to keep up with Nelson's relentless pace.  Over the stile at the trees and up the climby track to the Greenwood Entrance.  Again with the struggling.  Road, and Britten.  So nice.  Tail wind, good visibility, speed, and flow.  Straight down to pylon from the right-hander, missing the turn onto the traverse, then around across the front and down the funnest final section below the pylon to the cars.

All goods, 12.7 kms and 522 m climbed.  Off to Noodle Union for a number 2 and then to the meeting, followed by a nice pint at the Hop and then I visited Josh, who set me up with a super lightweight cSixx(?) chainguide.  I was home late.

Sunday Uppy Downy Urumau-y

Jet and me met Nelson on Fosters Tce in sLyttelton and up we headed. Nice day. Steep-arse climbs as always, and the downs were a tad greasy.   Jet had a lovely time and lots of drinks from my camelback.

First lap, up to top, and figured a slightly easier start, so off down Stormer, finding traction to be slightly dubious and untrustworthy.  Into Grommies lower down, and I nana'd the jump but flowed the rest nicely.  Into the up, grovelly bastard that it is, both of us screwed up the worst two corners, huff chuff on up to the level point, then into the short decent to the gap through the fence trees, and then the evil grovel climb short sharp bastard.  Then climbing climbing back up to the top.

This time, into the ridgeline, droppy jumpy things, pop pop pop, and then a left down Zombie Lurch.  Less traction than Stormer, and a bit hairy in places, leading me to dab a few times.  Out the bottom and back into the mean climb.  Around and back up to the top again, this time talking to a dude with a brand new Rocky Mtn for a bit on the saddle.

Then up around the easier climb Looper, and down this into Sunshine Face for my first time.  Not bad, but for one steep straight down line that I just didn't want to gamble with.  Then, once back on I was riding the last couple corners, and managed to smack my penis quite hard into the back of my seat.  Yowch!  Climb (from the easy part) up the open zigs and back up to the very top again, the Rocky Mtn dude arriving up behind us, having trouble with his dropper.  Off down, Stormer again, much better this time, faster, and I took the lefty drop part way down, then was in the lead for a bit into Grommies.  Final blast down and I nana'd the drop again and then cleaned most of the climb back up, Nelson miles ahead.  Final section around, piggy climb, and up then down the access track to the drop track that was super sketchy greasy damp grassy dirt, front wheel lock-ups, sliding, and out the bottom back to the cars.

MMR failed (cos my battery was low again), and I thought I'd just use Nelson's, but he'd forgotten to turn his on.  Probably the usual 8-9 kms, with around 550 m climbed, similar to one of these...

Wednesday Chilly Hilly Night Loner

Hustled my way through rush hour traffic and parked up top of Huntsbury.  Cold, cold night.  Headed up the dirt, taking it nice and easy on the wheeze.  Quite a few damp spots, water running etc, but trail was firm.  Up the old way onto the singletrack then up the landingstrip and up the gravel to the top.  Straight across the road into Vernon, gradually increasing speed, and getting used to the newly recommissioned handlebar light (new battery).  Good bomb down Vernon, with a couple of guys ahead of me who I was slowly winding in, tho not before the end.

Across Rapaki top and into the Witch, ignoring the Track Closed sign, seeing as it really wasn't mucky at all.  Dabby climb around, just didn't have my grinding grunt on, and a wee breather before the descent, which was a tad slow, and almost cautious, given the slightly damp rocks.  Stuck to the road and cruised around and up to Castle top.  Seat down, suspension engaged, and off, (also ignoring Closed sign, figuring the ranger just hadn't made it there yet).  Slow to start bomb, lights not seeming to be in the right place, but wound it up and before the first hairpin was going a pretty normal speed.  A couple of wet spots where there has always been, but all pretty tidy now given recent work.  Into the climb and felt pretty good, tho a couple of near stalls, then across over and down the finish to the Bridle top.

Up the Summit Road back towards Castle watching a train below disappear into the hill in Heathcote, then clambered up to the Tors Track where I had a rest and a snack and where my MMR stopped (I think due to battery on phone hitting 15%).  Got rolling again and the going was careful.  I dabbed a couple of spots I wouldn't normally, due to what could have been dodgy traction that wasn't actually bad, and nearly lost it over the bars on a very tight spot before the final descent.  Phew, survived, and across the road, onto the wee single walking track above it.  Struggled on the intial climb but the rest was okay, and got sweeter as I rolled.

Across into Witch again, clamber clamber, descend descend, deciding to hit up Vernon and pulling over to let a few descenders pass, then Climby McClimbface, up to top, across onto Traverse, along here, then dropping into the upper Huntsbury fun descender.  Mildly greasy, but not as bad as I'd thought it might be, jumps, (but not the last), and then across the landingstrip, over the fence, back down the singletrack, this time all the way, jumpy jumpy, cruisy cruisy, not very nice wetstuff near the bottom, and back to the car.

MMR only says 8.75kms with 446 elevation gain to the point I stopped on the Tors. So, based on previous similarities, more like 15 kms, and 600 m climbed...

Sunday Old, Young, and Dog Codgers Codgering

In Nelson for QE2's birthday holiday.  Was hoping to ride the new Aorere trail, but after a bunch of rain on Friday night, didn't think it'd be very do-able.  Sunday morning, resigning myself to a Codger's Loop, headed out with O and Jet, usual route through town and up the Brook into Codgers. Up the main drag, lovely sunny day, lots of people about, but we were mostly faster.  Bypassed the (new to me) Tasman Trails climb, opting for the Pipeline, up to Jack's (arriving ahead of the family that had entered Tasman as we passed), a few steep grunts on this, then up Middle Rd to the main skidder site.  Various lazy arse e-bike riders showed up (dicks).  We ignored them deliberately, then headed up to Firball Trig - nice steep wee singletrack to top.

Chatted to a dude at the Trig for a while then hit the down.  Firball - I wasn't trusting of the surface, as it was a little bit damp, so took it a bit easier than last time Nelson and me were up here.   Great bomb down tho, with O on my tail most of the way and Jet not far behind whenever we stopped to wait for him.  Out onto Middle Rd to finish, and climbing again to the little skidder site.  Contemplated the lower entrance to P51 and also Viral Flow, but decided to climb Whanake to the top.  Into P51, bombing through, surprisingly catching a couple, overtaking, jumping jumping.  One jump I even hit a tree branch with my head.  Further down, more jumping, rounding corners, jumping, catching up to 2 couples, both going slower than us, then lower down still and into Crazy Horse, taking this with it's few jumps to the bottom.  Not as good as lower Firball, methinks.  Then down the final 'Young Codgers' to the exit, and the tired-dog-slow-meander back to base.

Chilly to start, 16 kms with 417 m climbed.  Woof woof.

Wednesday Night Solo - Britten Cavendish Tors Castle Pleasant

As per the title... On my own. In the dark. Really wasn't sure where to ride, but Nelson was out due to sickness from flu shot, and I'd had a massage from 4 til 5 (not necessarily the best idea, but only spot I could get), and I'd hit Buynow on a Surly Dirt Wizard on Tardme in the morning and finally got the email to collect in Moncks Spur Rd, so that decided me where to ride.  Parked on Stoneyridge.

Up through Britten with an empty water-bladder onboard heading for the tap at the top.  Spotted some lights heading up above me and so chasing i caught them at the top.  Went to tap to fill, but to no avail, i'd left the lid in the car!  Drank a couple cups and rode on, back into Britten and around the front, then across the road, over the fence, and up the trail.  Hung a right and bombed it down to the stile, this section way shorter than i remembered it.  Down through Cavendish Saddle and climbed up the horrid overgrown steep zigazag, to the top.  Under the Gondola building and time for some down.

Nice bomb down here, slightly greasy under tread on the steps due to dew and due-south aspect.  Good going over the rocks, and found my way into the fence/trap-line trail easier than ever before.  Humped over the rocks and down to Bridle-top.  Headed up the walking track from here, all the while thinking "nah, rather be riding this the other way," so once in the broom, over the first rocky bits I turned around and bombed back down, onto the road, and up for Castletop.  At the top, I climbed up onto the Tors track and had a wee rest.  Noticed here the lightning popping beyond the mountains.

Awesome descent down the Tors, cruising the flatter section, and fanging the steep tech.  Onto the road and back up to Castletop, and straight into a grunty descent.  Good speed, good flow, good climb, and out.  Quite a few people assembled up here, some sort of event - Rogaine, I guess?  I continued on around the road, lots of wind along here, under the Gondola and up to Cavendish again, into the trail and climbing up Mt Pleasant for a well earned rest at the top.

Into the down, excellent flow, still, down here, bomb bomb, whooah, nearly lost it on that rut, but onwards down bombing through and around.  Above the trees (above the ruins) there was a guy with a camera on a tripod - "Hello" and on down into the swoopy zigzags across, flowing good above Jollies Bush and noticing my light getting a bit wobbly.

At the pines, into the climb and, huh, that's loose as.  Stopped and repaired light.  Was fiddly and took much longer than you'd have thought, but got there in the end, and continued climbing up to Greenwood entrance, onto the road, up, grabbed a drink, and back into Britten for a zpeedy descent.  Fun times.

A handy 17 kms with a smidge under 700 m climbed.

Saturday Short with O and friend

Was gonna ride Urumau, but then we roped in O's friend Hunter who doesn't ride much so wouldn't have handled the grade.  So, we parked at Evan's Pass and rode up the road, Jet on the lead giving me a bit of a tow.  Up to the Richmond Pines and over the stile onto the climbing singletrack:

Then up to Greenwood entrance where we turned left and headed across to the ruins. 

Dropped into Greenwood, me blazing off down through the tech, then chilling back waiting for O (not far behind) and Hunter (a bit further back).  Section by section we rolled like this, making for a very leisurely trip for me, feeling fresh the whole way.  After the gulch it was good rolling and once all the rocks were out of the way the boys definitely liked it better.  Fun bomb down Dangerous Dave's neighbourhood and around into the valley then the last blast down to the rocky ups.  We exited on the old exit in order to keep the dog in check around the road...

MMR was playing up, refusing to synch, so I reinstalled it later on Sunday, which seems to have fixed it but lost this ride...  which was only 7.50 kms, and I'd estimate just over 200 m climbed.

Moonday Under Water

To and from the tasting by the most direct route. Troll behaving admirably - saved me from ruin on my way home.  As I entered the park, a stick, right on the apex of my cornering - when the front wheel was at its most vulnerable point - barely even wobbled me.

Spectacular moon shining, 2 days since full. 

Then on the railtrail section north of Strowan Rd, a freight train. Thought it was doing to be a free ride... Got up to speed, engine overtook, then carriages, wind picking up, then - F U M E S . Ugh, gasping for breath. Dragged along in the roiled fug. Unbearable. Made me wonder about long term exposure to those, quite dirty, petrochemical compounds. Finally as the train passed on ahead the vacuum sucked in fresh(er) air, buffeting to fill the void left behind by the train.  On Friday night, on our way home from our play, T and I had the same train, but with the wind in the western half that time the fumes were on the other side...

16.8 kms total, (8.4 kms each way) 

Sunday Planting for all we're Charlesworth

Hoofed it to the Charlesworth Planting and back Sunday.  12 kms each way.  On the way there hooked up with Nelson at Aldwins Rd Linwood Cnr, and on the way home I passed through that little sealed pump track in town, and managed to plough into a little kid...  His dad was not happy!  Neither was he much - poor wee guy.

There. And back again.

Saturday Morning Dog Pleasant Solo Back Track Loop

Headed up top of Mt Pleasant (suburb) and parked in the usual spot on Stonyridge.  Headed up Britten through Upper Major Hornbroke, through all the merino sheep and their doings. Spectacular day after a freezing morning, and I was overdressed.  Held onto the extra layerage until the top where I stripped down to T and shorts.  Around the front, some little dampness between the tussocks around here, but drying around to the west.  Original Britten around to the Cutting and across the road and over the fence.  Up Pleasant, ziggy zaggy to the top where I lubed my chain (it'd been a bit noisy on the climb).

Hit into the descent. Over the stile and fangin'.  Jetty keeping pretty good pace except for the faster bits, so I paused a couple times to let him catch up.  Around above the ruins, and headed back along the (OG) Original Greenwood entrance and dropped into the (newish) fun descent - stopping to take this pic.  Happy panty tongue boy.

At the Richmond Pines we continued on the singletrack around and climbed backup around to the ruins (ish), and then turned around and back down the ziggy zaggy I'd just climbed returning down around and climbing back up to Greenwood entrance.

Onto the road, up round past the cafe and back into Britten for a good hoon. Stampeded the sheep, Jet still ignoring, direct route down and then around and under the pylons dropping, pulling over for some climbing riders, and finishing off the last drops to the car. Done

12kms and 391m and 1 happy dog

Saturday Loner Bowen Gnar Vic

City covered in low cloud all day, but I found some sunshine on the hills, sort of.  Parked at the end of Bowenvale Ave and headed up the valley.  Was about half way up the valley-bottom gravel section when I realised, "SHIT! I've left the key in the car door!!!"  Quickly zoomed back down, locked car, took key and got riding again back up the gravel bottomed valley.  Up the steeps and then into the HiddenValleyLink-Bonus track, climbing away, cleaning it all but the last hairpin up top, then up under the pylon and up the steep bastard zig zag climbing track.  What a prick.  Did better than last few times, actually managing to ride all of it, but stopped multiple times to breathe, heavily.  Saw only one descending rider, on the steep fun singletrack shortcuts.  Clambered all the way up to the start of the Traverse and had a rest and small snack, on my back, with feet up on the fence, draining the lactic out of the legs.

Along the Traverse, bit of a cruise, but pushing, always pushing, steady hard.  A bit of sunshine up here but cool sections of fog near the saddles, rolling through from the harbour. Straight through the top of Vic and down the Thomsons, both, to the kiwi and on up the road, steadily sticking with another rider ahead, only 50 m or so visibility most of the way up the Summit, down to about 20 m on Worsley's Rd.  I rolled on up to the top of the Nun, which was also in fog.

Dropped into the Gnarly Nun, greasy as from all the fog.  Rocks were slick from the damp dirt on the tires, making for a sketchy descent, getting brighter as I descended out of the fog that was really sticking to the hill here.  Dampness got less as I descended too, making the final sections quite sweet.  Into the lower Nun, bombing on down through back to the kiwi.  Across the saddle and up the Summit Rd, where I saw ahead the backs of a couple guys I know...  Namely, Steve and Pete!  Pushed harder to catch up to them, puffing heavily.  Pete on the new Yeti - sweet ride...

At the top of Vic, Steve continued on along the road, and Pete and Me dropped into the top, straight down to the cattlestop (next to the seesaw) and down into the rocks and gums, taking my usual favourite, bombing through this, then into Shazza's, and then straight down into Sneaky Ridge, bomb, drop, fun, into the deciduous section which was sketchy as, total loss of trail.  Around, dropped onto Flow, and out the bottom back and forth down Nu Bridges, nice riding.  Finally, I couldn't be arsed climbing Hidden Valley again, so we bombed on down the gravel valley bottom went our separate ways when I stopped at the car.  Driving back into the dankness of a low cloud Christchurch.

An acceptable 16.2 kms with 650m climbed.

Thursday Night Mostly Solo East End Loopies

Left work earlyish (4.30) and parked up Sumnervale. Nelson still got a bad back so was on my own.  Headed up The Captain, getting the usual asthma on the first climbing section even tho I was on my lonesome.  Stopped and de-layered and puffed inhaler below the cabbage tree, then got going again, a bit better.  Rest of the climb was good, with it just getting dim enough to nearly need the light by the top, but not quite.

Across into Godley, requiring some lighting now.  Mostly cleaned up all the rocks, but dabbed a few times, pesky lack of vis and struggly tiredness.  Once into the smoother sections got rolling quite nicely.  Bit of a rest at the top, before getting into the bomb.  Full lights mode.  Nice to Livingston, good climb out and better to Breeze.  Straight through this and across to the climb, getting into the narrow-skinny-tight tussock sidle.  Around and up to top of Breeze Bay track.

Nice flow around this, the lights of Lyttelton BRIGHT.  Careful bomb through that last off piste corner, over the stile and straight across into the Conda.  Easy flowings around to start, slowly winding up the speed, til the lower curves I was flying.  Nearly lost one of the corners from looking too far ahead and mis-judging the approach, turning in too soon and flying over tussocks through the inside of the corner, lucky there was nothing out of hand in the way.

At the bottom of the Conda-proper, hung a right up the walk track towards Boulder Bay and climbed, climbed up the new walk track and half way up my gears made some clickety sounds.  I checked and found a broken link.  Kinda squeezed it together thinking it might be alright but 5 pedalstrokes later and it all unravelled.  Tried to fix with just the chainbreaker but these newfangled chains have a big (relatively speaking) flange on the pin, and try as I might I just couldn't get the narrow bit of chain into the wide bit with the pin.  Really wished I'd had my glasses too.  All the detail was so blurry! Then I found a 10spd quicklink in my bag, removed the offending pin pieces and chucked in the quickie.  Perfect fit.  Rolling again, with a slightly tighter chain, and up to the road, and along this, mostly climbing and very dark. About 3 cars passed, all dumbarse boyracer shits.

Past the paraglider launch ramp and around through the cattlestop and up the climb, seeing a couple of lights up ahead just getting to the top.  As I approached I saw a red bikeframe in their lights and yelled out "Warren and Wayne?"  "Nope, Buggs and Dozer - is that you Steve?"  "Yep,..."  So, caught up and then we rode.

Excellent flow for me, I was just flying over everything, making for a smooth and fun descent - putting heaps of gap in between us.  I took the walking track ending at Evans, and waited a little for the other two to roll in.  Wazza's rear tire was too hard so he'd been pinging all over the place, and he was trialling a front rack (doing the Heaphy soon).

Then it was into the Captain.  Another smooth flow for me, bombing everything and gapping the boys again.  Awesome descent, feeling really good.  Feeling the benefits of my new yoga routine, I think.

Just over 20 kms, with 825 m climbed.  Not bad for a solo night ride.

Into the cars and off to Cassel's.  The rain started just as we started driving and got heavier and heavier into the evening.  Good Timing!!!

Sunday Styxed Townie

Met the crew (Steve, Pete, Nelson, Wazza, Wayno and Andy) on the rail trail (I'd backpedalled down stream for a couple of blocks to meet them) and we skedoodled north to Cosy Cafe for a quick beverage before proceeding up Cavendish and into the reserve to the planting.  MMR fucked out on me there, not recording my wandering around planting, carting mulch from pile to plants, and then riding through to the bbq and about a bit, before heading home, via Cosy Cafe (expecting to meet the family there), which turned out not to be the cafe the fam were going to, so then rode Cavendish to the cafe on Sawyers Arms Rd, then riding home with Jet through back streets.  Quite the combo.. 8.5 kms there, including a bit of the wandering about, then 5.8 kms home via that backstreet way.

Thursday Afternoon Quick HuntsBowrynvale with Jet

Finished work early and it was a beautiful afternoon, so managed to deal with the utterly stupid traffic (WTF is going ON? - took >30 minutes!) and parked on Bowenvale Ave.

Dog in tow, we galloped down the road and around and to and up Major Aitken Drive.  Not a bad pace the whole way, Jet just doing the usual fast running to start then buttoning down a bit by the top.  Onto the gravel, and he was very good, enjoying all the sniffing and panting a lot. Up onto the singletrack, I took a call from T and he slunk down into a cool grassy ditch, puffing lots.  Riding again, up the trail and over the fence, then on up the landing strip to the gravel and up this to the gate/cattlestop.  Through the fence here and I pushed the bike to the summit trail at the top of the fun descender.  Chatted with a guy (who'd build the extra bits lower down in the switchbacks before Old Skool).

Down time.  Jet behind, jumpy jumpy, tho skived on the final one - even pushed back up but couldn't bring myself to doing it (too much watching of the crashes of the week on Pinkbike...).  Then down the landing strip and peeled left onto the singletrack, droppy down to the gate.  Over the stile and sheep everywhere.  A real clusterfuck of them.  Jet was excessively well behaved, completely ignoring them.  Down the steep bylines, some corners sketchy due to dried sheep pellets acting like lightweight gravel ball bearings.  Dodge.  Droppy down, all the extra little bits, one or two of them a little worse for wear from lack of riding/maintenance and sheep.  Through the back and forths near the pylon and onto the Old Skool proper, passing a couple sitting watching the sunset at the highpoint just before the main descent.  Bomb bomb bomb, still sheep, and their doings, everywhere.  The stile midway is busted up so you could, with a small hop, just ride straight through it now.  I didn't, cos I didn't realise til the last second.

On down, still plenty sheep (and shit) everywhere, and the often-damp bit was a bit of a muckhole before and after the hairpin, and first time ever, lower down too.  Final throes, a sheep that was bailing ahead of me ran up above the track then promptly got a fright from Jet and tumbled onto the track behind me...  Out the bottom, and a slow (slightly limpy) cruise down the length of Bowenvale Ave back to the car.

An hour or so, under 10kms, and 402 m climbed.

Friday Naseby Solo and a Family Ride

Got out early-ish on my own, and took a bunch longer than Tray was happy with which meant they'd pretty much finished packing up by the time I got back.  I went up Translator Rd for a start, then followed Mining Claim all the way to the end, then got muddled on Tail Race, and ended up pushing back up to the waterrace.  Around this and back up Translator, climbing all the way up to the top of Hepi's Highway, then taking this all the way down to the very end, below waterrace, in the Cemetery.  From here, rode back down a little into Scobie's, down this a bit, and then thought, I'll get across there...  nope.  big fence in the way.  So, back up to Scobies, up this to waterrace, around drop down and up and around to Hoffman's, up this around the edge of the dam, nice, and started climbing but then thought, nah, and stayed on the dam and across to Pig Root.  Climbed up over and down to the waterrace again.  around, and down Undaunted, basically where we'd ridden a couple years back.  Stupid climby bits, over and over again...  ugh.  Then down Wet Gulley Rd and dropped into the sand pit, taking Roaches Gully, which also went up and down, but had some fun bits, and finally, along the road back to base where i was in trouble for being so long!   14 kms, and again, just over 200m climbed.

Car was pretty much fully packed, so we went out for another family spin.  This time, up Translator Rd, climbing to Hepi's, down to Canvas Town, left, down this and then into Down and Out, back up Tranlator, into Mining Claim and Sluice Alley again, around the Waterrace and down Moonscape.  Less than 6 kms, 106m climbed. 

Anzac Day Naseby Cruising - 2 rides

Couple rides today

First one with the family.  Looped all around the place, with T and H performing very well.  Covered a lot of ground.  Trails are all much better signed than they were last time I rode in here, making it much easier to find your way around.  The cleared bits are getting more trails through too.  Mostly I used Trailforks for guidance, which was helpful.

So...  First off, along the water race, then up Hepi's Highway, into Herring Bone, onto Mining Claim and along this to Sluice Alley.  Back at the water race, on around this just back to Translator Rd, up here, then on down it continuing across to Blue Man, down this to the end, and right on the waterrace, dropping down through the siphon zone and up again, around past Hoffmans dam, and entering Oddfellows, which wasnt really there, climbing, walking up to the ridge where we picked up Thos Foster, riding down this to Buster Gut, and getting onto Undaunted for the fun descents and non-fun climby bits - all these last few in the open grounds.  H and T were pretty much done, so we headed back around the Waterrace to the swimming dam, and on a little bit further.  They dropped down Collarbone Alley, and O and me took Flumes, catching them at the bottom.  Then it was down through town back to base.  Overall, we did 14 kms, with a couple hundy climbed. 

Then Otie and me got out for another quick spin. We rode up Hogburn, Broom Rd, up all the way around and to top of Hepi's Highway, then into the top of Wall St for an excellent bomb down, swoopy swoopy, out to, eventually, the waterrace again, down the end by the siphon.  Then we finished off below this on Moonscape - tho I took a high line to start with and ended up quite a way over from O.  Then we went up Hydraulic Uplift, but bailed out at Strode Ave, rolling down this to home. Was a fun wee spin.  Only 5.88kms this time, with a measly 130m climbed.  

Tuesday Phat Nugget Kaka return

Family holiday in the Catlins, staying at the Nugget Point Lighthouse-keeper's house -very exclusive, you have to drive up the walking track for a start to get up to it. Primo views. Had the fatty with me so after days of driving around sightseeing and going for walks places I finally jumped on the steed and bombed down the hill for bit of a beach cruise. 20kms there and back. Mostly on the beaches but a few little pop overs on the road when the sand ran out. Finished with a big climb back up to the house. Nice times.

Wednesday Night Lunar Loner

Bit of a loner tonight.  Parked up on Parkridge and rode my usual way into Britten, hoping a ride would stretch out my lower back, which has been pretty bad last couple days.  Not as bad as Nelson's tho, he's been laid out flat with his for the last week, hence why he wasn't riding with me.  Climbed up and around the front, watching the sun disappear behind the mountains (and therefore not needing my sunnies) on the way up.  Across the road and into the Mt Pleasant climb, stretching a few times on the way.  Peaked and took in the view of the moon (behind clouds) reflecting on the sea.

Lights on, (head: full, handlebar: medium), and into the descent, super smooth to the stile, then into the rocks, cautiously negotiating what appeared to be grease, but finding plenty of grip and bombing the fun bits.  Swooping through the tussocks, and then around and into Greenwood proper.

Down through the first lot of rocks, and my handlebar light packed it in.  Battery either truly stuffed, or not holding a charge since I charged it after the Packhorse ride (when O had it).  Next ride, to test whether charging it immediately prior to riding helps...  otherwise it's a new one.  Put the dead light in my pack and turned on my Lezyne (300?) flashy on the 2nd brightest setting - provides a hint of sufficient light.  Rest of the way down was smooth, enjoying it all and taking in the view now and then.  Getting quite dark by the bottom, and exploring the new swoopy bermed (not finished) corners leading into the new exit on Evans Pass (spits you right out into the traffic... look carefully!!!).

Tail light on slow flash, head light off, and up the Summit Rd, not seeing any cars the whole way til just as I got to the Richmond Hill pines.

Over the fence and down the ridge, nice speed swooping through tussocks, around into Frog Pond and at the stile met a very puffing dude climbing.  Puffing so much he could barely talk to me, or, he maybe was just rude.  Bombed down the trail from here, seeing that Andrew was right, the pines have been chopped, roots still in place tho, meeting a couple more riders climbing here, then a whole clusterfuck of them coming over the fence from Clifton Terrace.  Rude arseholes they were too, barely an acknowledgement of existence from a single one of them.  I continued down, wondering where the trail was that peels around to Richmond Hill, finding it at the bottom, so took it, dropping some more into the valley, then little bit of climb (carried momentum) and across under new houses, and then up a steeeeeep wee stormwater catchment terraced gabions to Richmond Hill Rd.

Steep road up here too, to the top of it, over a fence and up steeply to the pine trees, and around onto the old track we used to follow, up this lights off, moonlight only, and up past the stockyards, and up to the big Pines.  Across the road, (the previous biker's lights were now climbing up the 4wd track in Greenwood), and into the singletrack climb up to the original Greenwood entrance.  This was sweet to the top, finally along the road.

Onto Britten for a sweet sweet embrace of the descent.  Flowy, smooth, surprising grip, and dew on the trackside grass all sparkly.  All the way down, around, back and under the pylons and into the steep bomb down rocks to the final fence, over, and back to the car.

17.77 kms ridden, with a grand gain of 702 metres...

Wednesday Night Pack Horsing Around

T dropped O to me at work, and we met Nelson below his place (after parking and changing above).  Over the hill and parked up on Gebbies. Nearly 2 years since last we rode it... and 3.5 years since O rode it aged 10...

Headed in on the road, bit of a cooool easterly blowing across.  Onto the singletrack and when it turned downwards, the overgrowth of gorse and blackberry annoyed O a bit.  Into the forest, and it was pretty dim, nice bomb down over all the roots, barbed-wire skimming along next to us near the bottom, then the clamber climb up to the stile.  Up the paddock, O doing well to keep up, over the top and over the next stile.  Quick bomb down and into the forest to meet Hazard tape blocking our way.  Detour painted arrows and markings we followed, back out of the forest and up a steep skidder track which Nelson rode all of, of course, and O and me walked and intermittently rode.  At the top, we met destruction.  The view across towards that wee bach that's in there was carnage, and machinery, and churned up ground and stacked logs...  We rode across towards the bach to find the old track, following it in part, then having to push up through slash to get to where we could see the trail heading into the forest again.  Rode up this til we passed through plastic tape again, and were at the steep switchback section.  On up to the fenceline from here was still nice trail (albeit steeeep).  Over the stile and the fun climbing tech with exposure began.  Nice cruise up through the dykes and on round to the hut.  Looked pretty full, of 'troubled' youth, maybe.  Said gudday to the ones that came out to stare at us, but they weren't exactly engaging...

Into the down, nice cruisey roll down, keeping on top of the technicalities.  Starting to get pretty dim, and was darker still under the trees.  We managed the descent, super fun, without lights, and took the new exit out of the forest avoiding the hackage beyond the tapes.  Out onto a smooth-as forestry road, which descended fast for a while, then climbed again.  At the top, instead of going down the way we'd climbed, we rolled over and down slashed ground to the old trail in the last of the trees (before the fence and still standing forest.  Lights on, and got rolling, only to be stopped by piles of slash that we clambered through to get to the douglas fir descent.  O's light crapped out within 5 mins, so he had to place him between us, and he struggled the rest of the way out.  Short descent to the road, climbed this, over the stile, bit of climb then down the paddock, quite dark now, O struggling a bit with the lack of seeing.  Over the stile, and down the side of the rootsy barbed wire descent, then climbing, pushing a lot, out of the trees, into the the last single to stile, road, O stayed on this, while Nelson and me hit down the wee singletrack below the road...

A pretty average 12.14 kms, with 472 m clambered.

Sunday Foggy Pleasant Fatness and a Couple of Par Klaps with O

Parked on Stonyridge and rode the fatty on up the hill. Fog was roaring thru and so I just toodled on upwards, and when I thought I was only about half way up suddenly there's someone on the road above me and I was genuinely surprised to find myself at the top.  U-turned and took the trail around the front and along the original Britten to the cutting, across the road, over the fence (where i took the pic) and on up the singletrack Pleasant climb.

Into the down and lots of honking of damp brake disks, which soon settled out, pinging down the rocky section, finding the smoothest line, and bombing, weaving down through the tussocks.  Around above the ruins and into the single-track across towards the Richmond Pines.  Found excellent flow through here, thinking, "man this is good" and then around a tight left hander, slightly overcooked front wheel over some tussocks on the outside, and straight into a hole, which pitched me over the bars unceremoniously dumping me onto the grass.  Ouch!  - first time for ages.  Had to sit down for a quick breather and re-collection of self.  Then got riding again, flowing the rest of the way around to the pines and up the singletrack climb to the old Greenwood entrance, and up the road to the top of Britten.  Here, I rang Steve.

They were nearly at the top of Mt Pleasant so I scooted up Broadleaf to meet them - Pete, Andy, Wayne, Robin and Steve, all waiting for me at the top, still in the clouds.  We all rode together down with them to the ruins then Steve and me took my earlier route around the singletrack while the others headed down Greenwood and the Captain.  Steve and I cruised around to the Richmond Pines meeting a big group here, and then up to the Greenwood entrance.  Up the road and into Britten, for a well earned bomb down the trail, cloud thinning a little.  Steve was parked on Upper Major Hornbrook, so he peeled off at the first pylon and I continued my merry way across and down past the second, back to my car.

Just under 14kms, with 460something metres climbed.

Drove through to Lyttelton, lovely sunny day every where else in the city, and picked up O from Tane's.  Then we went home, got his CAP pass, dropped off the Fatty, and headed for the park where we met Tra'y, Nik, H and Jake.  They'd brought O's bike.  Some lunch, then O and me buddied up the lift (me on his ticket) and did a couple laps.  First lap, Yeah Yeah Gnar, Possum and into the Jandal.  Good jumpies, and speed.

Second uplift, took Summit Connector across, dropped into lower gnarly nun, and nun, then Choir Boy bombing to Captain Cooker and Loess Rider as fast as possible.  Both of us were a bit stuffed by this point, and I was starting to get sore from my OTB earlier, so we bailed, figuring on giving up on his 1 uplift left on account that we got 2 freebies for me...

Sunday Ashley Forest Clubbing

North Canterbury MTB Club had an open day (organised by Committee member Darryn (of Chainreactioncycles, Chch). Total sausage fest (pic, me in the back, Nelson running late) - 40 or so guys (and one woman...)

Headed up Mt Grey Rd (which we'd not entered on before (much easier!), and then up to the top of the jumpy 'bypass' track at the 2km mark.  Then the group split into two, with a bunch of us heading down Sam's downhill track to a skidder site.  I got stuck behind a couple of XCers who were fast on the flats and climbs, but bloody slow on the downs. - mildly annoying.

From the bottom we sidled/climbed across a singletrack on an Access Rd to the bottom of the main one we've headed down a couple times (called Stu's according to Trailforks) and climbed up this (meeting the other group on their way down), out the top to the Tires on the road, along and into the flowy extra trail (that was covered in thinned trees the first time we were here).  Then across the top part of Stu's sidling singletrack and back out onto the road.

Crossed to the Tires and headed into what they were calling Rally Sprints.  Fun blast down this and then back up the road and into the flowy trail around to the sidling single Stu's and all the way down the way we'd come up earlier, and then continuing on down to the bottom on Single Track One, ending at Thomson's Rd.

Headed up this and onto the skidder at the bottom of Sam's, and up the (NCCC) zigzag climber to the top.  Parted ways with the group here as they were just gonna head up to do the Bypass again, then down Rally Sprints.  Nelson and me hit Sam's DH again, then around the singletrack Access sidle, climbing up a slightly different climb (spotting Jack and Jill on our left) up to the Tires and headed down Rally Sprints again, jumping and flowing better this time.  A few of the group were still at the gates.

14kms with lots of up and down resulting in a measly 350m climbed (also a few crappy MMR straightlines action due to lack of coverage and phone in pocket for the first half). Weird that.

Saturday's Parking Slot

Took O across to the Park and we met Nelson there, with his DH rig.  Uplift, and into Swinger's Party.  O handled it all bar one little rocky drop steepy.  Was good.  Then into the Jandal and we leaped and grooved our way down.  O got held up by a couple of grommers who'd slipped in front of him on the last newly finished section, which annoyed him a bit. 

Next uplift, took the Connector around down Nun, Choirs.  Nelson snapped his gear cable but managed to salvage it and dropped into 3rd Base, while O and me headed round and did Captain Cook and Shredzilla.  O was going to bail into Loess at the first meeting but I convinced him to stay in to the next bit (just on the super steep rocky bit) and he ended up following me down Shred all the way, and cleaning the steep rocky section.  Nice one!

Third uplift.  Nelson headed down the GC for an explore, while O and me hit Swingers again, and at the midpoint, I headed down DOHC, which was a bit shit, and he headed down the Jandal again and enjoyed the bottom end more.

Didn't bother with MMR...

Wednesday Eastern Excellence

Mint ride tonight. I started off slow but warmed up pretty good by the end.

Met at Slumnervale and moseyed up the Captain.  Usual gasping for air and my legs just had nothing in them.  Seemed unable to put any power down.  I put it down to lack of sleep and massage yesterday and insufficient nutrition through the day, but maybe it's just 'getting old' or some weird pre-diabetes bollocks.  Anyway, moseyed up, and was starting to get a bit more groove towards the top, tho still walked a tiny bit before that last sprung swing gate.

Into the Godley, cleaned a surprising amount of the early-stage rocks.  I never stopped moving and at least one foot was always clipped in, such were the dabbages that propelled me through the few tech spots that I blew out on.  It got easier towards the high point, where we took a brief rest:

and then we blazed on down the blastzone, speed and lack of traction our friends.  At the squirrelly swoopy bit towards the bottom, we stopped and Nelson set up his phone to film. 
(overlooking Taylor's)

Then we rode back up the trail a bit and dropped back in, whooshing past the camera and swooping back and forth below.  I bombed out the bottom and Nelson turned back to collect his gear. 

At Livingston, headed out around the CraterRim/360 track, nice bit of tech to start, then steeeeep bastard steps and a couple of hairpins that Nelson cleaned and I didnt.  Brief respite at the top:

before dropping down to the stile, over, and on down.  A few tech-steps and lots of nice rolling, droppy, interesting trail to enjoy, with spectacular views and stunning light out across the harbour and heads.

Across Breeze Col to Breeze Bay track, climbing on the pea-gravel, up, up, up
(me looking stuffed, as usual)

and around,then nice roll around to the stile with a hawk cruising the currents above us.  Around to the Lookout bunker where Nelson did the wee gap jump a couple of times, and then into the tight narrow long-grass sheeptrack around above the road back towards Breeze Col. 

Awesome in this direction with the tightness easier to handle.  Nice blast down to the col and straight into the Snake.

Shitty gravel on the first bit, but once into the Anaconda proper we were going a nice pace.  Not quite as fast as last time, but still pretty quick, and it was nice not being dropped by Nelson and also not being too far back through the whole tail section.

Up the road and into the Sumnervale Track, climbing up steeply (cleaned it all) to the deer fence which Nelson rode the whole length of, but tired legs as usual got the better of me - making me walk maybe 50 m.  Up the gravel Scarborough track to the parasailer launch spot and around and back up onto Godley.  Awesome blast down this, my chain coming off about half way down the techy-est rock sections towards the end, but I kept my flow and pace and made it all the way through to the end.

Finally, the blast down Captain Thomas.  Very fine it was.  Cleaned everything bar the usual climb, and had lots of fun doing so, tight on Nelson's tail the whole way too.

A rather respectable 19.3 kms, with 765 m climbed.

Thursday Night Huntvern Witchduncan

Cool ride tonight.  O and me drove over to Nelson's and parked, and together we rode up Parklands, into the 2nd cul-de-sac and up the alleyway, onto Huntsbury, to the top.  Bit of a grind up the gravel and singletrack and gravel, but made it to the top in one piece.  O on the back of his win at the highschool races the day before.

Into Vernon and the first couple hundred metres we pulled over about 10 times for climbers, but from there down it was the bomb.  Straight through the staring zombies at Crapaki-top and into Witch Hill, clambering through the technicalities and around the front.  Down, across the road, over the gate and up the steeeeep dry grass farmtrack, over the fence, and up through the rocks to the top.  Phew, most of the climbing done.

Picked our ways down, with O following us down the steepest most tricknical lines, and bailing off over one of the steepest cliffy sections...  He was okay, and got straight back on, and we picked our way down the ridge.  Awesome fun times.
O and Nelsie somewhere below me on the ridge here:

Down the final steeps, under the pylon over the gates and around into the forest.  We dropped down into the jumpy trail, jump, followed by drop, followed be me nearly bollocking myself and nearly going over the bars stalling in the washed out corner.  On down, pop over jump, around and down into drop through to berms and another jump to finish.  Nice.  Moseyed up to look at the Dreamtrack line - mental!  Then off down below and out the bottom, and flashies on for the haul back around the roads back to Nelson's.

Excellent 14 kms, and 600 m climbed.

Saturday Mounting Mt Lyndon, and Looping The Luge and Dixon's

Biiiiig day.  Nelson got to mine about 7.30 or so and had a coffee then we were off.  Got out to Lake Lyndon after just after 9am and hit the trail.  Across the lake edge and into the the climb...  What a climb.  I carried from the get-go, but Nelson pushed his heaps.  I pushed a bit, but then carried more.  We carried for a good hour or more,
(zoom in, I'm down there pushing somewhere)

eventually riding bits of the ridge, and pushing a bit more towards the top.
(Nelsie riding the wrong way!!! overlooking the Castle Hill Basin)

Fantastic views off the top, 360 degree magnificence.  Gorgeous day, no wind at 1500m, calm as calm.
(Lake Coleridge, Rakaia River, and various icefields in the distance).

Then it was into the down...  Explored bits around the top a bit and found the trail, jumps, drops, weaving back and forth, steepness, looseness, sketchiness, fun, exposure...  all good.  Kinda not hard to lose your way, but kinda loads of options you wonder if you should have taken.  We stuck to the main route all the way but where we ended up we weren't 100% sure where to go next.  Took a slight wrong turn following our noses across to an exit track, but that was fine and a nice blast out.  Looking back up, we could see several options we could have chosen.  Oh well.

On the flat, and gravel road, back around the most of the kms back to the car.

Over 760m climbed, in less than 9 kms.

Then bikes back up on top of car, and off round the road to Broken River carpark.  Straight into the Sidle73, climb puffing me up as usually, then down around to the Craigieburn Rd and up this to the Anti-Luge, clambering on up this.  Nelson cleaned the whole damned thing, whereas I was so toasted I walked more than I've ever walked before.  I just had nothing left in the tank for the climbing...
(me looking stuffed)

Eventually we made the saddle.  Phew.  What a wreck.

Into the Luge, what a trip.  Awesome blast.  I held onto Nelson's tail most of the way, until that seat half-ish way down, and then he just vanished.  I tried to speed up but couldn't.  A slight moisture on the roots kept them bloody interesting.  Passed a girl, and then a guy, nearer to the bottom, and we blazed out the end and hung around til they arrived.  They'd bitten off more than she could chew, and so were heading back down to their car.

We headed off up the road, a slow grind for me, but not too bad.  Along above the Envt Ctr and then up around the new(ish) sidling trail climbing onto Bridge Hill and into the new Dixon's entrance.
(me looking stuff'der)

  Cool.

Awesome blast down this, jumping jumpies, or not, and then I lost my chain just before the one little uphilly bit, putting a bigger gap between us.  He'd stopped in the bush part for me to catch up, and from here we had an excellent run down to the finish, roosting and railing and wailing.  Singletrack along the fence to the 4wd climb track, and we hopped the gate and headed back along the road to the car...  Me?  Toasted.

Total 13.2 kms loop, with 490 m climbed.

Grand total, 1250 m climbed for the day.

Thursday Night McBritten, Pleasant Green Godsnake

Pretty quick one tonight... Met Nelsie at McCormacks Bay, and we headed up the valley.  Grunter always gets my breathing badly, so stopped at first opportunity to puff some anti-asthma, and we managed to scrounge a few blackberries too.  On up the valley, scoffing on more blackberries a couple of times a bit further up, then into the hairpins, me dying on a two.  Up the road, and then up the reserve to the bath and over the fence.

Up through Britten for a well earned rest at the top, before heading around the top of it, and over the stile and up Broadleaf to the towers.  STraight into the descent, boff boff boff, super quick and super smooth with a bit of a tail wind the whole way.  The corners were railing!  Meandered into Greenwood and the bombed it too, both on record times for the descents, methinks.  I slowed a bit on the traverse to Gloomy Gulch, but beyond this we bombed.  Nelson flatted jumping off the jump to flat, so stopped for a good while while he fixed that.  Then off again, fresh and fast, stayed on his tail til the pumpy bit into the valley and so he'd dropped me for my usual favourite bit before the two rocky ups. 

Across Evans, and into Godley.  Cleaned it up to the first break then bollocksed a few rocks then less so further along, even cleaning something Nelson bollocksed.  Good go most of the way til i crapped out on the rocks before the first boardwalky thing.  Brief break at the usual ridgetop,

and then we were off again, fanging down the way to Livingston, some of the fastest ever we reckoned.  Good climb from here, and then fastness down to Breeze.

Into the 'Conda, cruising to start then nailing it lower down.  Nelson got the drop on me on the 'Tail and was rolling across the paddock at the end while I was still above the houses. 

Finally, ugh, the grind up the road.  Luckily I'd brought my flashies, cos she was pretty dim light (heavy nor'west cloud cover).  Made it to the top though, and we headed into Nicholson Park, dropping down the steepest lines (over rocks and roots) and into the top of the Flowers, cleaning all the switchbacks with our switchback technique (except the last one for me), and then flying down the narrow alleyway to Whitewash Head Rd, down here, jumpy jumpy flow to the Esplanade and a nice cruise along this before the increasingly fast slipstream back through Redcliffs and around to the car.

A tiny smidge under both 24kms and 900m climbed

Sunday Post-party Car Pick-up

Band gigged at Joy's party on Saturday night, and we left our car behind, so, my job was to collect it.  Was rather tired, but got two-tired and got rolling. 

Usual route to town, funnily, at Heaton St I ended up a few metres back (far enough not to slipstream - cos that would be lazy), from another mtnbiker dude, who was keeping the same pace.  I was behind him all the way to where I peeled left on Disraeli, where I zigged and zagged to Wordsworth, then on through Opawa to bottom of Rapaki, where upon he was exactly the same distance ahead, all the way up Rapaki.  Back was killing me on the grind... We both turned left onto Taramea Loop, and I started to catch him a little.  Then, on about the 5th switchback he stumbled slightly, and I over took him.  I dropped him a bit on the down, but then he caught me again a bit further round, but never quite kept up.  Back at Rapaki I kept on up the Full Monty, and he was gone - I can only assume back down? 

Up the Full Monty, steep bastard that it is higher up, but got it all bar one steep rock I stalled on.  Phew, the top of Rapaki, and left onto an easy going Witch Hill, stopping for a well earned break at the usual high point.  Off down to the road and then stuck to it around and up to Castle-top.

Awesome descent, usual rocketshipping to the first corner, good between hairpins, and then not bad start to the climb.  The top of the climb was a bit of a drag, then okay to finish.  Onto the road and around under the gondola, bumping into Connor and Jade along here.  Then climbing up to the cutting, past fire engines, ambulance, and the contents thereof up on the hill carrying a stretcher down from the bluffs, with the ambo repositioning itself as I rode past. 

Into Britten, and out around the front of the top.  Nice roll this way, and last of the climb nice and easy up towards the main entrance, before descending at sometimes ridiculous speeds down the fun, yelling at the sheep to get out of the way.  Around and back, under the pylon and across the front, bombing down into the descent down the rocks and under the last pylon, over the fence and down Longridge onto Mt Pleasant Rd for the bomb do the car.  Ambulance passed me as I was getting in the car, not in a hurry either...

Long and tiresome 29 kms, with 722 climbed, and a smidge under 200 less descended.

Thursday Night Hunting Witches, Castle Tors Duncan

Met at Nelson's after work and we headed up from his, taking the first cul-de-sac and up the steep bastard steppy alleyway to Huntsbury Ave and on up from there.  Hot and tiresome work up here, into the gravel and on up, me getting a fucking sore back and having to stop several times to stretch it out.  Nasty.  Up onto the singletrack, through to the landing strip then up towards the gravel.  At the bottom of this, Nelson did the new jump (which he skipped when I did it cos he was on his XCmachine). 

On up to the top, and into Vernon.  Awkward start to this, but got the roll on lower down towards the end and it was good.  Straight across the Rapaki summit and into the Witch, climbing well, cleaning all the rocks where Nelson bolloxed it first time round.  On round and on the descent I lost my chain, so had to stop for that.  Onto the road for speed, up to Castlerock.  Chatted with a couple of guys here before they took off and we rested a little longer.  The in we went.  Rockships on.  Flying down the trail, it's smooth, wide and fast now (til lower down).  Good run all the way into the first hairpin, then back the other way, not quite as fast, and then around the next, down and into the climb, where Nelson powered away and I just plodded my way up.

Up the road, climbed up onto the summit walkway and up to the Tors track, Nelson cleaning almost the whole climb.  Brief snack with the view... 

and then down the Tors, all the good tricksteriness, down onto the singletrack above the road, and good run along this to the fence-corner where we climbed through and climbed to the peak for Mary Duncan. 

Into the descent, hard to follow, and super super dry.  Ridiculously dry in fact.  Found our lines, but some were really hard to see, then, down the ridgey bit towards the rocky knob.  Bit of a look for what I thought I could see from the Tors track - nope.  And then Nelson did the tricky board drop thing while I took Nana's line, down and the up onto the razorback ridge.  Excellent ride down this, one of my smoothest, and lower down the I swear I could smell the grass burning on our brake disks.  Dropped on down to the pylon and under, over the gates, and around into the forest.  To the left, and dropped into the jumpy droppy track.  Checked out some of the new (stupid) lines, and then out the bottom and out the exit track, meeting a couple of (jump building?) young guys riding in. 

Final blast around the streets, standing cranking up Centaurus and down and back around to Parklands up to the car (which had been tampered with by Wazzaaaaa).

Finally a proper ride... Over 18 kms, and 820m climbed.  

Monday Night Shorty with O

Opportunity arose for O and me to go for a ride, with him on his new bike (Trek Roscoe (P. Coltrane)), and for him, a bit of training for Wednesday's school XC racing.  We headed over to Bowenvale valley and rode up the gravel, steep stuff getting my asthma going, had a puff just into the trees, and then on up the steep into Hidden Valley 'bonus' climb.  Stopped and scoffed a few blackberries, then on up the steeperer to the fence and under the pylon.  Into the first descent, stopping now and then to see how he was going.  He was liking it a lot more than his old bike.  Bombed down through where he crashed last time and twas all good.  Out the bottom and into another climb.

I felt better this time, plenty of air, whereas he was struggling a bit more this time.  Into the down, faster again, and feeling really good.  Him not quite so much,but no crashes and he enjoyed profusely.  A good short blat.

6.72 kms in two laps with 281 m climbed.

Thursday Night Eastern - Cut Short

After work parked at Sumnervale and promptly discovered I'd left my bike shoes at home. Bah. Only had my Keen sandals or some Chucks, so while I waited for Nelson to arrive, tried both out and settled on the Chuck Taylors cos the Keens were too wide and sorta angled sideways badly...    He arrived, and we got rolling, up the El Kapitan, climbing, ever climbing.  I kept my pace slow, so that I wasn't gasping for air too much, and I had a few more dabs up in the rocks than usual, because of not being attached to the bike.  Stopped for Nelson to adjust his seat but otherwise a good climb.

Across Evans (getting ready to open !!!) and up onto the Goddles. 

Here's me on a smooth bit.

And me just after that first grunter from Evans.

(Pics courtesy Nelson's MMR..)

Heinous climbing in these shoes, with rocks knocking me off kilter all over.  Not surprisingly, Nelson got way ahead, while I struggled on behind.

I found him on the ridgeline and we had a bit of a rest.  And then, my phone rang:  

"Where are you?"  

"Top of the hill, why?" 

"They're going to be here at 7!"  

"What!?  I thought they weren't going to be there til 9?"  

"Nope."  

"Fine, I'll turn back."  ...6.44pm 

In some ways, a relief, cos riding in these shoes was tricky, so, Nelson headed on and I turned back and had a solo ride back.  Much easier going the other direction with some downhilliness assisting the getting over of the rocks.  Feet moved around a fair bit, and something I noticed, that must apply to flats, is that I was holding onto the seat a lot more with my thighs.  Had a good flowy ride back and met about 5 riders coming the other way.  

Across Evans and into the Captain.  Nice flow down here too.  Cleaned everything as usual and had a jolly fine time doing it.  Just gone 7 when I got back to the car, and half an hour later I was home.  As it turned out, "they" (Paul and Justine) didn't turn up til 9, so I bloody could have stayed out there after all!!!

Only a 9.2 km ride for me, with a measley 346 climbed.

Sunday Morning Urumau Loops

Bought O a new bike over the weekend, (a Trek Roscoe 7) and as he was staying at Tane's, I thought I could incorporate a ride, a ride for him, and pick-up into one trip.  So, Nelson and me met on Fosters Tce at 9am, figuring to do a lap or two then get O across for some.  Also, I had Jet the Dog with me.  And was hung-over from a bad night's sleep recovering from Nostalgia Fest.

Headed up from Fosters, steep wee climb, and then up the main drag 4wd track, encountering 3 guys who'd never been in there before.  My nose started bleeding near the top.  Took a while to staunch.  Pretty much met them at the top of it all and 'guided' them down the droppy ridge (top of Jackasaurus), then left over into Zombie Lurch.  The bottom end of this looked completely different to my memory.  Once we got on the climbing track, Sloanstar, I worked out where we were.  I reckon it's cos normally we've ridden in here in the afternoon, whereas in the morning the light was all wrong.  Steep bastard climb up Sloanstar, around and the couple of bits of down and more climbing through the fence around Sunnyside and across to the junction hub, ready for climb number 2.

Kinda meandered up with the boys again and we all set off from the top similar timing.  This time tho, they went a different way, content on finding their own ways, and we took the left hand from the top of droppy ridge, following on down Stormer, bombing down this one which was getting more familiar.  At some point this becomes Grommies, about half way down, then the swoopy fun continued, with me taking the nana line around the one big drop jump.  Back up Sloanstar, around and back to the hub.(other boys gone now).  I rang Otis at some point and he was bailing on me, on account of a sore ankle from rolling it at sports day on Friday.

A different group of guys were climbing this time (including a dude on a Taniwha, who was in a VERY low gear and crawling, using "it's my 3rd up" as an excuse.  "Oh, huh, same here," I said).  Hadn't even realised they were in there.  Up to the top again, this time heading down Jackasaurus again, off to the right, where there's the really steep cliffy drop-thru that I've yet to ride (today inclusive), followed by the cool 'cliff-face' that's fun to ride down.  Into Grommies, swooping and dropping, and this time Nelson slowed for the big drop, and I followed him over.  Not bad!  on through to the bottom.  And, ugh, back up the climb again.  Stopping along the way for Nelson to session the cliff-face drop.

Met T's old boss at junction point, and had a chat.  Then off for the final climb, this time taking Looper for an easier access to not far off the top.  Last blast down the ridge jumps, then down Lurch again, this time at higher speed and more funs.  I dropped everything smoothly this time.  Nearly lost it on one corner, and Nelson did the big trail-gap jump near the bottom.  Finally, climbing up and around, and back down to the cars, I was toasted.

A miniscule 8.78 kms ridden, with just on 600m of (very steep) climbing.

Tuesday Night Pre-Meet Heat

Parked up Parkridge and beat my way up Britten.  Hard going to start with, I was really wheezy and struggling for air.  Also, it was hot.  Grass was very very dry.  Sheep all seemed surprised when I rode past them.  Headed around the top front, and then along towards the cutting, across the Summit Rd and over the fence for the climb up Mt Pleasant.  Getting into better form up here except for a few silly dabs on rocky corners.  Sat at the top of next to the Trig and watched a cruise ship depart the inner harbour.

Back on the bike and into the down.  Good run down, flowing nicely through the rocky sections then weaving well through the tussocky turns.  Dropped down the 4wd farmtrack to the Greenwood Entrance and rode up this towards the road.  Took me a second to see the 'new' lower track (above the road) that heads for the Richmond Hill pines, but once on it I tucked and wove my way down to the corner, then continued around the rest of it, climbing above Jollies Bush and up the zigs and zags towards Greenwood.

Into Greenwood, rocky bony bastard, but good flow and float, taking some of the top corners faster than the last few times.  Getting a bit tired across Gloomy, so took a short rest, before hitting the droppy down, pump and float, drop off the drop-off, and around into Dave's territory, heaps of speed, back and forth, around and pumping into the valley around for the final descending to the rocky up and out the bottom.  Excellent.

Onto the road, not long after 6.30, got my pace on and plodded away, puffing pretty hard.  Caught up to a couple of (I thought, older) guys, and one of them I knew from Hockey last year.  So, rode and chatted to them.  Their pace was just that little bit slower than mine so I got my breath back and had them puffing hard...  Rode and chatted all the way up the road to top of Mt Pleasant, where they took the road down and I hit Britten for an excellent blast down and across and down through the pylon steeps, back to the car dead on 7

16.6 kms and 580m climbed.  Not bad for a quick solo.

Sunday Hot Hunting Skool

Quick lap from Nelson's.  Another hot day, and he's recovering from a bad gastro thing.  He was on his XC whippetmachine due to a broken nipple on the GT.  We headed up his street, down the alleyway, along Centaurus, and up Major Aitken, figuring we might get some shade up here, which we did.  Up to the dirt, I was feeling pretty good, but even recovering from the bott he had more gain on me on the whippet.  Up the gravel, hottest section just before the gate below the pylons, with a smidgen of breeze kicking in beyond this.  The grass is dry up further, really dry.  Up the singletrack and over the fence.  Bit of a rest here, and decided where to go.  Dropped down the new line towards Old Skool, checking out whether it'd been weed-whacked or not.  It had, and that whacked grass was slippery.  We headed back up the 4wd track and on up the rest of the Huntsbury gravel to the Summit Rd.  Nearly a breeze up here, to cool on, and then we headed into the Traverse, me getting the lead on a slower old guy that Nelson got stuck behind.

Into the fun descent, my rear tire still too hard from yesterday's pumping onto the rim.  But a good blast down here, jumping the jumpies, and bailing up on the new final gap-jump to check it out.  I walked back up further and re-rode it, cleaning it nicely.  Not so bad at all.  Next, down the paddock and through the upper section we'd already ridden.  Over the stile and on down the techy descents.  Unfortunately, a couple of these sections hadn't been whacked.  We took the second one that wasn't, and it was okay.  Into the lower drops and then into the off-camber zigs and zags, lots of overgrowth on these making it quite slow going.

Now it was into the Old Skool proper.  Nice flowy fast fun.  I was quite coasty, not pushing it too hard pedal-wise, on account of tiredness and heat.  Blitzed out the bottom and then street time back to Nelson's.

Got home dead on 12 noon, and we headed for Lyttelton to catch the ferry to Diamond Harbour.  Had a lovely refreshing swim off the wharf as soon as we got over there.  Absolutely perfect.  Then walked around the Clifftop walk, and up to a shady spot near a band playing and had a couple of nice beers, followed by a swim at the end while we waited for the ferry again.

A baking 12.34 kms, with only 475 m climbed.

Saturday Sprung Hot Solo Living

Out on my own today.  Relatively limited time, and lots of heat, so chose the ride for shortness and shade.  Headed to Governors Bay and parked at the Living Springs Farm Park.  First time over here since my heat exhaustion just over a year ago...

Treadled up the valley and around into the Pines for the climb.  Nice and shady in here, so wasn't bad going.  Sure was hot tho.  Up through the Orange Rhyme, then through the gates above the Outdoor Ed centre and up through the gums into the douglas fir, climbing, walking a bit, very overgrown and lots of stinging nettle about.  Not so bad when climbing, but took note of any really sketchy bits.  Eventually made the ladder-stile, clambered over this and continued on up, into the open paddock, and up to the cabbage tree corner.

Rested in what shade I could glean and then headed downhill, back the way I'd come.  Fast blast through to the ladder, over this and bombed down, instantaneous plant recognition skills coming into effect.  "Is that a mahoe/kawakawa/foxglove or an onga-onga?" all the way down.  Ducking and weaving through them all, and positioning feet to avoid the low level ones. Not long and I was out tot he gums and down the field to the gates again.

Into Mississippi, back and forth like all the ss's in the name, around into the climb for Zanes and my back tire was weaving all over the place.  Stopped and pumped it up, then bombed on into it.  Fun and weavy, fast when I could, but visibility from all the overgrowth was tricky.  Stopped and pumped the tire again, and rode some more and out the bottom.  It was getting worse, but I wondered if I'd make it, so headed into Totara Valley (below Pines) and squirrelled my way down.  At the bottom I bit the bullet and flipped the bike, got the wheel out and chucked a new tube in.  Pumped it hard to get it seated, and go rolling, hot and bothered from the pumping.  Down down back to the car.

.  

A measly, but steep, 7.8 kms, with a hot 289 climbed.

Got home and took the two boys out to Roto Kohatu for a nice fresh swim.