Sunday 24th May

Well it has been a week since my last update. So it is a double wammy now.

Tuesday we met to confirm who is going on the trip. Pretty much everyone really so that is great. Accomadation is now booked and confirmed. I have to tyhank the guys at Groundeffect for a donation. We have had Debbie making our new headgear. Nelsie will get the logo on them. it makes them all cheaper than planned. Great night was had and once again Thank you to Tinkerbell for the provision of the meeting room and nibbles. Ta to sandals for the muffins.

Sunday was a day to go Tree planting with the TFC crew. We met at the Ferry Rd Bridge in 2 groups for a road run to Dot com. Tinkerbell arrived at my place where 3 of us departed from. The Boss (aka Janine on her Boss 7 cruiser, hence the name) Tinkerbell, Geez and myself headed off and met Bugs near his place and cruised down to the Ferry Rd Bridge. Waited for the other group who sneaked past us by going the back way. The 2nd group consisted of Phatboy, Candystriper (aka Debbie on her new Electra Cruiser) and Mellonfarmer. We ooed and aahed over the bikes and headed out to Scumner for coffee. We then headed back to the planting at Charlesworth Reserve. Silverfox arrived for the planting. The girls peeled off to go look after the chillblains while the boyz helped plant 1608 native plants. Great day and the girlz put in a good ride. Most impressed really. The next organised ride will be Thursday out at Mcleans Island by the looks of things.

All tracks will be mush and worse news is the weather does not look good for the weekend. Will be in touch.

Sunday 18th May

A beautiful morning, cool but sunny and I was well recovered from the excess' of the night watching Canterbury cruise into the semi's. Phatboy, Tinkerbell, Te Rex, Silverfox and Sandals arrived at mine and we headed up Huntsbury again. All enjoyed it as it is such a pleasant ride (even with the short grunty bits). Arrived at the top and finally got some single track. Headed around the Mt Vernon Track towards Rapaki. So cool, cleaning all and getting some nice runs. All flowing well. At Rapaki we watched the helicopter land to pick up an injured roadie. He looked a bit bloody, and no bloody helmet either. We headed over Witch Hill, sweetly riding with the wind blustering, then from there up to Castle Rock track, blasting through here, rocks flying. A casual ride around to John Britten, a flick through here and then blasted Greenwood. Awesome ride through here. A couple of moo's to get through and past but the track was sweet. The slippery boardwalk has now been replaced with a non slippery boardwalk. A couple of close calls for me and a couple of the lads. Nothing more than a whoopsie though. All the tracks holding up quite well although a couple of puddles along the way. Down Ct Thomas (Slippery in quite a few places) and then Dot com for coffee. All feeling quite good. Sandals a bit tired (I wonder why!!?) . The long ride home with wind blustering and buffetting all the way. Got back to my place in good order.

meanwhile, sunday night, PictonBlenheim and the Farmer of Melons singlesped on the hills...

C U Tuesday at Tinkerbell re the Trip. 7.30pm.

Saturday 9th May

A day that was fine for a change and a chance to ride. We were riding on a Saturday this week cos of Mothers Day. Lucky for us as it was just a tad wet on Sunday. None of the good tracks were open and we decided that the top of Rapaki would be shit now that they have turned it into a mud slope....so we choice to go up Huntsbury. Now this is one of the ways we use to gain access to the top. Geez, Tinkerbell and Bugs met at mine for a late start of 9.30ish. We started up the road and the first couple of straights were good then it steepened a bit and then a bit more. It eased off for a while and we had a wonderful view across the city. I pointed out where the tarmac used to finish and then took on the last steep tarmac at the top. Off road we went and at the second gate we went off piste for about 100m. This was due to the clay track being steep and very slick which was to much to tackle. The grass was at least holding together. After this it was shingle track all the way to the top. Pleasant ride and I think more enjoyable than Rapaki. Might use this access more often. At the top it was tarmac all the way to Sumner. We did this in good time. I was impressed by how well we all rode. I even stood in the pedals at some sections of up and used bigger gears all the way. At the top of John Britten we stopped and geared up for the downhill run. It was going to be cold as the previous two short downhills proved. Quite a few roadies passed us while we were stopped. I had on a face mask to keep the cold out. We started the run. Tinks led off followed by me. We caught a Ginga roadie chick and while tinks enjoyed the view I passed them both and kept up the charge pedalling hard out whenever I could. Tinks put in a chase never passed though. (do i sound like mellonfarmer). So a roadie way up ahead and decided to chase them down, caught them at Evans Pass. Tinks and I just kept going and passed the roadie at the first bend and went hard. I led again (as Mellonfarmer would say) but Tinks passed me at the bend. I was not having that and so I charged hard and passed him. I would say it was possibly the quickest I have ever come down there. We cruised until 1st Geez and then Bugs caught up. The roadie went passed and gave whoop of acknowledgement for our effort. Stopped for coffee at Dot Com. J9 and Grace joint us.

The ride home was gonna just be a cruise and was until Shag rock. A roadie couple passed us and he gave us a look of contempt. I rode for a while thinking about it and the at Redcliff shops I decided that I was pissed by this. I pushed into top gear, stood in the pedals and gave chase. Tinks just said, See ya. Bugs held on a we rode hard. Caught the roadies 50m into the causeway and was just drafting. The plan was to bide my time and pass them at the end, but his phone rung and they stopped. Pissed me off but we kept pushing. Slowed at the end and waited for the other 2 to catch us, which was Ferrymead shops. Cruised home from here. A bloody good ride and challenged myself. I was a little pleased. Especially cos of a night on the piss before hand.

Now a important notice. We will be having a meeting for the trip on 19th May. Tuesday. It is commitment day. At this stage accomadation looks like $30 per night. Maybe less yet. I need exact numbers. Even if you are not coming for the trip, come to the meeting. I will confirm where soon. Also put in your calenders a gathering for a few quiet drinks at my place on the 13th of June. We will celebrate my 12th birthday.

Sunday 3rd May 2009

The first planting with Trees for Canterbury for the season. I left my place on the cruiser and pedaled over to Fatboys where Geez and Tinkerbell (pictured actually planting) met up. Fatboy rode Grandad (his 1941 Swiss Army Doctors Bike). We headed down Kilmore into Hagley park, through the middle then down Kilmarnock St and right onto the cycleway all the way to Northcote Rd. Missed all that filthy road doing this. We then cut across from there to Styx Mill Rd and got into the planting. 2000 plants into the ground in under 2 hours. A drink of juice a couple of sausages and then we headed back to Fatboys just reversing the trip. 40 km for the others and 50 km round trip for me. The longest ever trips for the Cruiser and Grandad. A great day for a ride and a nice way to travel on a planet saving adventure. You all missed it but we will get you to the next on.