Sunday 22nd February 2009

Ooh my poor head! To much booze the night before and 2 weeks off the bike does not help a chap up the hill. Fatboy, Warren, Silverfox, Tinkerbell and Geez met at mine and we set off up the Rapaki. The track is ready for the tar seal nearly. God it is smooth and boring, no challenge here other than what I had inflicted on myself. I felt like my legs were tied to the ground with elastic. Enough moaning cos we all made it to the top (just). We had just stopped when Te Rex caught us. All the tracks were closed with big signs out to remind us in case we were tempted. So we set off towards Sumner. Road riding is so boring, I don't know why anyone would want to do it as a sport. We got to John Britten reserve where after a brief stop I went down Mt Pleasant Rd while the others went on to Sumner for coffee. I had a wedding party to attend. My run down the hill was just another road ride, fast and bland. Don't know about the others.

Tuesday 17th Feb, apparently...

i couldnt make it, but apparently Nelsy went up rapaki and all the way along the top and met the others, Meerky (sorry, i mean, Tinks), FreakylittleTony, and WAZZA!!!, who'd all come up Capt Thomas, at Evans. they went out to godley, round back to breeze, down the 'conda and back to Scumner... apparently. so i've been told.

Sunday 8th February

I was looking forward to the ride but was unsure who was coming as everyone was away, ill or for at least 1 person piss crook. The weather was going to get hot but when we set off it was still quite cool and cloudy. Warren, Te Rex, Geez and I set off up the Rapaki. Road works are starting to turn this into a motorway with no bumps in the first stretch at all. Easy riding though. Halfway up the bottom stretch my phone goes. Lone Wolf was sitting at the next gate in the shade waiting for us, so then we were 5. At this point the sun came out and it got hot, real hot, in fact bloody hot. Sweated up the last section and then onto Mt Vernon. Going well until I dabbed, putting my right foot on the edge where it slipped off the track, me leaping over the handle bars to recover. A tweek of the ankle and I thought BUGGER. Eased around the rest and tested it out. All good really. Flowed on around to Vic for some shade. On down Thopmsons and then up the road to the top of Marleys. Blasted down here, but gosh the track is breaking up. Ruts and holes forming every where. Liked the knew work and on down the next section, no one falling off. We then blasted down the old Dyers road and back up into Vic. The shady section was so good. God it was hot up there no wind at all. Down Dazzas, Brents and into Bridges. Riding well but once again the tracks have turnt to dust every where. Bottom of Bridges where you take the drop I managed to make contact between the seat and man bits. Oooh that hurt. nearly made me cry. Then down and out. Here we find a nice breeze, wishing it had been like that up higher. Good ride by all.

Choosday 3rd February

I drove out to Dot com and there I met up with Tinkerbell, Abba, Nellsie, Warren and the Lone Wolf (Hubby). Sandals and Helmut were running late and were going to meet us at the top of Evans Pass. Set off up Ct Thomas and an OK pace. Tinks, Nellsie and Abba a bit quicker, then Lone Wolf, me and Warren. Warrens first time up this track. He enjoyed it. Wrist was a bit sore but the brace helped quite a bit. Just as I was about to arrive at the top, Abba passed me going down, no explanation. We got a text later saying he had derailleur through spokes, or did he need a new bike??. Sandals and Helmut had continued on. Off we went over Godley head track and we caught Helmut at the first summit and Sandals at the 2nd summit. Tracks were dusty and showing some signs of deterioration from the dry. At Breeze Col, Nellsie, Lone Wolf, Sandals and Helmut continued while we others shot down Anaconda. My wrist had started to throb. A blast down here but the track is not as smooth and flowing as in past years. The first cattle stop is broken and will be quite dangerous soon if not repaired. Safely down then back up over Scarborough and home by 8.30. A short ride but a good ride.

Sunday 1st February 2009

A warm overcast day with a little humidity greeted me upon my wakening. Better than the beating sun. Wrist was still a tad sore but I needed a ride. Tinkerbell, Abba and Te Rex arrived promptly and off we went. A relaxed grind up the hill. Wrist sore especially over the bumpy bits of Rapaki. Rode one handed when I could. Nice chat all the way up passing a couple of other riders until we saw this older running go over in a rut. Stopped to check him out. He was shaky and grazed and he walked the rest of the way down. We met Sandals and Helmut (for the rest of the day we will call him Mark of the helmut as he wore one on the downhills.) Up and over Witch Hill quite nicely, Abba and I slowly pedaled to top of Castle Rock and then the others caught us at the top. Blasted down here surprisingly well and regrouped for the grind to John Britten. Another blast and straight into Greenwood. Stopped at ruins for a regroup and a position shuffle. I decided to go near the back but that did not last long as we hunted down Te Rex and cut a corner or two to pass. Blasted all the way. Wrist aching but holding together. Nice flow into the last section and then stop and over the fence. Everyone riding sweetly. Now the sun comes out, Abba lets on he is out of water and the call goes out to drop down Ct Thomas. We decided to play and try and get everyone down and confidant over some of the lumpy bits, checking new lines and options. Mark of the Helmut had a nice line over the first up and over, I watched Tinks do the steppy one and followed him. This was after watching some guy cartwheel over the handlebars and nearly role down the hill. He was up and off with his mates quite quick. Flowed on down but baulked at last gnarly rocks but Tinks took the line he was shown. We flowed on and Te Rex followed me down Mother Teds rock, (without the Irish language being used) and on we went. Over the little kicker with Abba getting this, down the steps and after nearly running over a runner down to the bottom. Stopped for coffee and then cruised home taking the track around the estuary at Ferrymead and all the way to Radley street. Excellent ride, felt good. Wrist is bloody sore so have bitten the bullet and bought a brace. Still going to be able to ride Chooseday.

mean while, Nelsy and Swtchbckr did this...