Thursady 23rd October 2008

The day after the trip! We are all home safe and for most of us sound. Only 1 injury of note and that was to Mellonfarmer. More of that later.

7 of us set off on Friday last from Cookie time. Mellonfarmer, Tinkerbell, Geez with Fatman and Silverfox, Carbon Boy (Nelson) with Rubberjaws. The plan was to stop at Tekapo for a quick spin up to the Mt John observatory. The weather was great and we set off around the lake. The climb was pretty tough with a few steep sections. Some rode, some pushed the steeper sections, but we all made it to the top for a wonderful view and a cup of coffee. The downhill was bloody awesome. Steep and loose in sections with big googlies to trip you up if you did not stay focused. Fast, fast fast. We stopped just before a chain across the track. Tinkerbell running in with a flat. We left him to fix this while we went and skimmed stones in the lake. As we set off we hear the chain get hit as Tinks rides into it. No damage to him but a broken gear cable to the bike. Packed the cars and off to Wanaka.

Arrived in Wanaka, good accommodation in the Lodge at the Lakeveiw Motor camp. A room each, good showers, toilets and kitchen. Got some food and then had a few drinks. At about 11, (3 team)Hub, the Dreaded one and Dave arrived to join us. More drinks, talk and planning. The morning started with a light rain, nerves hit and then the sun came out. Rode to the Sticky Forest. I can not remember the track names but we rode a lot. Down 100m up 100m, down and up, down and up. Sounds like sex but it was shear MTB bliss. Winding through the trees, blasting round the berms, steep descents and steep climbs. Tough work but absolutely fantastic. Hub blew his calf muscle and was out for the trip.Back to camp for lunch and a wee rest. Took the track around the lake in the arvo hoping to find the cross country course. Dave broke his frame and had to head back to camp. (Luckily The Dreaded one had a spare bike.) The map was wrong so we ended climbing an illegal track, crossing open paddocks, being ignored by a local woman when we asked for assistance. We finally got back to the sticky forest for a couple of runs before heading home. Indian for dinner. Packed the cars in the morning and headed back to the Forest for more ups and downs. We met a local who guided us out on the cross country track we could not find on Saturday. Awesome track. Ended up dropping down to the lake on a loose, steep and technical track before winding up a fantastic single track to the forest again. A blast and then to the cars for the trip to Alexandra.

Booked into good accommodation at Alex, although the units were spread out. We rode into town for groceries and lunch. The worst accident of the trip happened when Mellonfarmer was leaping off the kerb and his bike went out under him. He hit the road, leaving skin, blood and quite a bit of pride on the road. Rubberjaws just missed riding over his head and bike. We checked him out but not a lot could be done. Gravel rash really but nasty. Sore shoulder aswell. A bit of mucking around and then we rode to Clyde for dinner. Fast track along the Clutha stopping for a beer in the shade along the way. Nice meal and a ride along the RailTrail to get back to camp. Next morning we met up with a free guide (surprise surprise)from the local bike shop. (Maps are not in good supply, locals do not want to share the tracks I fear). Started to ride a lovely gradual climb before pushing up a steep nasty track to get to the top. Awesome views and some nice techy singletrack for a while. The descent from the top was out of this world. Steeeeep and techy before it became bloody tricky. Some rode, some lowered themselves over the worst of it. An awesome ride and well worth the doing. Met another couple for a ride, Jimmy and his lady Michelle. Rode amazing single track, loose and steep, tricky and rocky but wonderful stuff. Could of ridden this second bit all day it was fun and flowing. Back for lunch. We ended up relaxing before heading out for Dinner. Discussed the next day.

Dave had sussed out a guide for $25 a head so Tinks, Silverfox, Geez and Rubberjaws decided to ride the singletrack of the day before again. Michelle had offered to come along and keep us from getting lost. The rest went with the guide. Met Michelle who was embarrassed to inform us that she had been blasted out for offering to show us around for nothing. The local guide/ bike shop owner blew a shit cos he thinks every one should pay to know the tracks. He also was the guide for the others. We paid $20 a head to Michelle cos she was nice but we were pissed about the whole deal. The other guys were then charged $30 a head cos the group was small. This tosser was charging $1 a minute to give us a ride. Alex locals suck, they do not seem to want to share and this guy in my opinion is a tosser. Michelle was cool and took us over the old track and up to the Mannerburn Dam and along some rolling singletrack. We got back and drove to Naseby. The others guided by the TOSSER had an awesome ride. Techy and Steep but not worth the $$$. They then came to Naseby.

Got set up in the cabins at Naseby and went riding. Dave and Hubby crook with Dave vomitting. The 3 team stayed home. We went riding and found the tree that destroyed Tinkerbells last trip to Naseby and he completed the jump. We found lots of the old trails and headed back to camp after a couple of hours. Went to dinner at the Royal Hotel and then back to camp for drinks. The next morning we packed up and then rode for a couple of hours. Did some cool tracks and finished with a blast down an awesome chute. came home.

Thats all I wrote. Coulda talked some more, cos we laughed, ate, drank and farted lots but that can be saved for looking back on.

Wednesday 15th october

A quick ride with Tinkerbell, Geez, Silverfox and I (Rubberjaws) just to test the service on our bikes. I had new rota, pads and tyre. We went around the single track behind Ferrymead and then up Canon Hill Cres, down and across onto major Hornbrook, easy pace and chatting about the trip. We came down the single track to McCormick's Bay. Track was hard and fast and we were blasting quicker than recent times. Tinks was leading with me behind. He goes over a small rise, past a flax and into a bend, as I come around the track is wet and slick (wet clay) and he is bailing but his bike is in the middle of the track. oops F...! I am trying to brake without loosing it or hitting his bike and going over the bars, screaming at Silverfox and Geez to watch out. In the end this heart stopping moment and potential trip killer finished with lotsa laughter and big sighs. There was a big digger on the last stretch so be careful out there. A cruise home after this. Roll on the trip

Sunday 13th October

What a great day for a ride. The plan called for a flat ride so we could attend the Trees for Canterbury planting at Horseshoe Lake. An 8am sharp departure from Rubberjaws was called for. I (Rubberjaws) walked out the gate at 7.55 and no one was in sight so I meandered down to the corner, still no-one so I set off with music in my ears. Down Opawa onto Ensors. At Linwood Ave my phone goes, and it's English who got to my place at 8 sharp, so I wait for him and even ride back towards him. He pumped hard and when we got together blasted down to the Aranui to meet up with Geez. We 3 then pumped into the easterly and picked up Tinkerbell on the Brighton bridge. Though the park, down an alley or 2 we went and eventually came out at Broad Park. Cruised along the beach and then I led in, up and down the bumpy single and into the next stage. At a sand blow out on a hill this chick coming towards us stopped in the middle of the track and then moaned at us as we struggled pass with a comment like " ooh why don't you decide which way you are going" my reply was "stupid bitch why don't you move over to give us options". Up we went and Tinks took off his top layer at the shelter. We then pumped non stop all the way round the loop to Spencer and back to the main carpark where we stopped for 5. The lead changed a few times with Tinks, English and myself taking a role. Great ride. A road cruise around to the planting site where we helped plant 2000 native plants. Fatboy and Mellonfarmer (with Otis on the tag along) showed up too. Planting was quick and easy. All of us except Fatboy did a cruise through Horseshoe Lake with rangers permission and we split at New Brighton Rd. MF and Otis right while the original 4 went left into the bloody easterly again. Pumped to New Brighton where Tinkerbell dropped off and the remaining 3 continued on the singletrack around to Bridge St. Then into the ponds, over the electric fences, past the windsurf area, into Charlesworth Reserve and then down the cycle way to Ensors Rd where we all split. Geez Right, English to Town and I back home. A total of 52km. Loved the pump.

Thursday 9th October

Geez, Tinkerbell, Mellonfarmer and the Silverfox met up at Rubberjaws for the Blast up the farmtrack and were surprised when Fatboy arrived. We all thought he was still away. Up the first section below the first gate everyone dabbed except Rubberjaws. Different story going into the next grunt. Rubberjaws dabbed while a couple made it all the way. Continued the grunt to the top. Not to bad time overall. We all blasted down from the top to Witch Hill. Finally adjusting to good single track that is dry again. Around Witch Hill which was good and then on the road to Castle Rock Track. mellonfarmer stopped for a snack so I, (Rubber jaws) led off. Rode it well and got past the head thing on the first hairpin which I cleaned so sweet. Everyone came through without a puncture for a change. On to John Brittan where we regrouped before dropping down through here. This should be legal track, it is so sweeeeet.. We then bombed down McCormacks Bay track which is also sweeeet. Rode this well. Then a road ride home. Good time and fun had by all.

Tuesday 7th October

The plans looked good for the ride, Rubberjaws left his place with Abba and headed over to the Silverfoxes. Met up with Tinkerbell, Geez, and Nelson. Took the road around and started headed up Worsley. Nelson feeling the worse for wear after a couple of weeks off the bike, sprinted up the steep section. As we neared the top of the steep section of road the southerly started blowing hard slowing us down a bit. Just around a bit the rain started coming down and Nelson came back to join us. The decision was to turn and run from the weather. Down we went, past the hospital where we split up. Some heading back to the Silverfoxes while the others kept going. Nelson split at Colombo and Abba and Rubberjaws got wet heading home. Not what we had planned.
later, swtchbckr did this (loop)

Sunday 5th October.

The morning started with Rubberjaws receiving 7 texts and a phone call to see if the ride was on or not. It was on for those hardy soles who did not mind a bit of slip and slide. A whole body workout was called for due to the damp conditions. Mellonfarmer, English, Tinkerbell, Geez, Silverfox and Rubberjaws set off up Rapaki about 8.45 in a very light shower. Not wet but borderline. The Rapaki was boggy mud in patches which was surprising. Fatboy sent a text from Cambridge just to say Hello and let us know the tracks he was riding. When we hit the top we headed over Witch Hill to get used to the slippery rock and then onto Castle Hill. technical on the rocks with the mud sticking to your tyres and causing many little gasps. We all survived and headed on. Rubberjaws and Geez went through the John Brittan Reserve while the others did the road. This was in better condition than all the others. Greenwood was next on the list and although rocky it was not as bad as expected. A few slippery spots but then we took it easy compared to what we would do in the dry. Hubby had made contact. he was on Godley track by himself. Warned us of the fun to come. At Evans we decided that the rain was not to bad and carried on up Godley. Good run until we hit the mud where track repairs had been done. Slip and slide, gasp and groan. At the col we found Hubby fixing a puncture with a smile on his face. Chatted and then chased a couple of guys on Nomads. They looked like twins, same bikes, same packs, same facial hair. MMMM... We caught then on the up as one feel off. Blasted down the greasy trail to the top of the Anaconda. Silverfox did a fantastic splat coming through the last cattle stop. Down the snake we rode. Good conditions for the most part but a few very greasy patches. Rubberjaws had an interesting moment where the track and him parted company briefly. We all survived and then headed up and over Scarborough for Coffee. The road ride home was hard and fast but some were still feeling good at the end. Nice ride in all.

Thursday 2nd October

A fantastic night for a ride. The Thursday blast up the farm track. Dreaded One, Hub, Dave, Silverfox, Rex, Tinkerbell and a friend of Rex met at Rubberjaws. We headed round to the Farm track and started the slog. The Dreaded One and Dave had never been up here. Dave did well and Dreaded walked some spots, poor fella. Most of us managed to ride it all again. At the top we turned left and blasted down the single track past Rapaki over Witch Hill. All riding quite well. The road to Castle rock was done in good time and as Dave and The Dreaded one stopped for a ....Chat, the rest rolled on by. A lovely run down here, no dabs and out. Not wanting to muck around as we were chasing the end of daylight. Silverfox punctured, snakebite on the rocks. So a bit of a slowdown. By time we got to John Brittan reserve we were nearly out of light. Hub, Dave and the Dreads went towards Greenwood cos they had lights and the rest of us dropped down through the reserve. I like this even though not legal. By time we were out it was borderline as to what you could see. A full moon would of been good. Had to bomb the road from here. A good ride but 15 minutes more light would of been great.

tuesday 30th September

The boys did a blast on Sunday out to Godley and back. Good ride from what I hear. Tuesday we met at Dot com, Silver fox, Rubber jaws, Tinkerbell, Mellon farmer, Geez, Abba without lights and Hubby and the Dreaded one with lights. We headed up Captain Thomas which was sweet and dry. They have cleaned up the top rut which makes it sweet to ride for everyone. Dreaded One and Mellon farmer took a moment together while the others caught their breath. I (Rubber jaws) plodded on up onto the Godley Track by myself at an easy pace just to keep momentum. The others started to catch near the top of the first rise. Blasted down past the rutty bits, (they have started to cut out some new track here which will alter speed and lines)then up and over the next bit. A couple of ruts and then down the Anaconda. A wonderful blast down here, good pace by all, the tail was sweet. Hub and Dreaded went out to Boulder Bay under lights while the rest of us headed up the road. Down through Thompson's in near darkness slowed us down a bit though. All in all a fun ride.