Thursday 30th July

I met up with Sandals, Helmut,Abba, Tinkerbell and Phatboy at Taylors for a short ride. We headed out and before we even started I had gear problems. Had not cleaned the bike on Sunday and the mud had hardened behind the front shifter so had to break this out. After this all was well. Sandals and I headed up the walking track while the boyz had already gone up around the tail. Felt good riding and the weather was pleasant. Headed towards boulder Bay but at the second steps Sandals stopped moving. Phatboy went back and after watching them bob round searching it turnt out that pedal problems were the cause of the delay. Helmut and Sandals headed back. The rest of us headed on, pleasant ride with a quick blast towards the gates above the Bay. jackets off for the grunt up this hill. Did ok but I stopped for a breather before heading on. A regroup at the top and then round the lower track to Breeze col. Saw a couple of lights come up the conda and just knew it was Sandals and Helmut. They had fixed the pedal. Chatted and then let a group that Abba knew head down first. Their lead guy had no light and by the time they got down Phatboy had caught them. Into the cars and home. Short sweet ride. Words of wisdom for the day, When going up hill, Breathe. Exhale completely and it will be easier to do this. Never hold your breath when riding.

Tuesday 28th July

For those who could make it, we met at Taylors Mistake for a night ride. Geez, The Goat, T Rex, Silverfox, Bugs, Abba and myself (Tinkerbell) set off up the tail of the Anaconda. We steadily made our way around to Boulder Bay - steps and the odd rocky section kept us all on our toes, so to speak. Bit of a gail blowing, but not enough to put us off as we all negotiated the steep climb up the hill - the first craggy bit catching some riders off guard, but everyone grunted up well. After a quick regroup we made our way to the road and crossed over for the next uphill...a quick (slightly slippery) detour to the other side and we decided to head back over the hill to the Godley Head entrance. Around the lower single track below the road to the top of the Anaconda, the single track in good condition...until Bugs decided to drop in on a relative...and disappeared down a hole! No major injuries, but he was left with a sore hand (no comment). All together again we headed down the Anaconda...a couple of slick and rutted areas to watchout for, but still a fun fast decent back to the carpark. A good fun ride had by all :o)
Lets do it again Thursday!

Sunday 27th July

A lovely crisp morning for a ride. The following met at mine and we got under way by 9.30. The Goat, Bugs, Geez, Tinkerbell, Silverfox, Sandals, Helmut, and Te rex. We headed up Huntsbury via Aotea. Phatboy made contact and he was gonna meet us at the Top of mt Pleasant Rd cos he had some stuff happening. It was the usual grind up the hill, I was feeling quite good but paced myself so I did not ever have to stand round waiting. We got to the top and although a coolish breeze was blowing it was lovely and clear. We headed across the top of Mt Vernon and down towards Rapaki. Most of the track was ok but the mud was there and it made some of the rocks a bit slippery. Some people dabbed heaps while others did not. I waited for Sandals before going over Witch Hill and joining up with the others who were all in a rush to stand around waiting. We then ground around and up to Castle Rock. The first 50m were wet and slippery but the rest of the track was in ok nic. Loved the blast down here, cleaning it all and I loved watching Bugs have a real wobble in the last rocky section. Never seen that before. A regroup here and Phatboy met us at the shelter and handed out the PFMTBC 2008 Inc DVD. From here we cruised to John Brittan Reserve and then straight into Greenwood. No regroup. The track was wet and slippery. Riding was tough and slow. Lotsa of wheelspin, dabs and fighting for control. A regroup took place at the ruins where Sandals rode straight past us and led the way down. We all gave chase, with a few passing others and just running all the way to the bottom. Cool and long. Captain Thomas was taken cos of time. This was wet but rideable. Caution was taken by most. I had a moment on the slope amongst the steps. Most rode straight on home while Sandals, Helmut, Phatboy had coffee with J9 and Grace before riding home. Nice day for a ride. I even got a ride in with J9 and Grace on the cruisers in the afternoon.

Sunday 19th July

Oh what a morning. Awoke to find the sun was shining, it was not frosty and we had some single track open and ready to ride. The boyz all showed up on time sort of. They included, Silverfox, Bugs, Mellonfarmer, Tinkerbell, Geez, the Lone Goat and Phatboy. We all set off around Hansens Park and onto Huntsbury. Lone Goat tried to push the tree over at the bottom again and failed. One day he might do it. Cruisy ride up the road for all of us, then onto the off road. Just wonderful, with me slowing up at this point with some cramping. Regrouped at the summit and then onto the Traverse. All going sweet through here, it was so nice being on the track again. At Vic we took Thompsons, then up the road to the top of Marleys for a run down the top half. Sweet track that it is. I was hitting jumps and smiling to myself all the way. Excellent run. Tinks and the Goat headed off to Vic while the rest of us rode back to the top of Worsleys for a run down here. A lot less mud than last time. We all took differing lines and speed. Some keeping clean on the ridges while others dropping into the water filled ruts. I took a mixture and loved the run. Fast flow down the tarmac and on around to St Martins for a quick coffee before getting home by 12.30ish. Great Sun Day ride. Looking forward to the release of the PFMTBC 2008 Inc DVD, produced by Phatboy productions. Could be next Friday, so stay tuned.

Thursday 16th July

Oh what a night. The Boyz went up the mountain to see what they could see. Wonderful views of the city on a clear night. It was beautiful and we did not ride on any of the tracks posted as closed or avoid. We are good. Oh no we are really really bad. Tinkerbell met at mine and we doodled over to Silverfoxes where we met Te Rex, Geez and eventually, Phatboy. Cos all the tracks were closed we rode up Hackthorn. I was way over dressed so had to stop and remove a number of layers. After being cold all day I did not want to be cold on the ride and I went way overboard. Any way we plodded up the hill and then the boyz went up the mountain to see what they could see. The track we took was fantastic, easy gradient all the way to the top. A couple of sections we had to lift the bike but the rest was just pure joy to ride. When we got there we debated coming down Hackthorn and I said no lets go down there. All eyes lit up, so we did. Bloody fantastic. Reminded me of Dun Mountain but with the city lights twinkling. Rode all except one obstacle. Enjoyable and then onto tarmac. Down Hackthorn at speed. Passed a car on the way down, the Phatboy slip streaming me until they had speed to go past. Great ride. We split up on Rose St, with Tinks, Te Rex and myself heading back towards mine. Te Rex headed back to do Dyers Pass Rd for fun. The boys really went up the mountain to have fun, and THEY DID.

Tuesday 7th July

With all tracks pretty much closed and the Bottlelake pretty much screwed we went for yet another blast on the tarmac. Abba and Bugs met me at mine and we headed off to Phatboys where we hooked up with him, Mellonfarmer, The Goat and Tinkybell. We went around the river at a good clip, into town where Abba did a doubletake near a lamp post and nearly plowed into it. Victoria Square to Worcester St then around Nth Hagley pretty much, crossed at Riccarton Road and did most of South Hagley, back past Hospital, around river, through the Square and then down the John Britten alley. A loop of Avon Loop and into Pomeroys for a couple of pints. Nicey Nicey it was too. Up Fitzgerald, Armagh and at Brittan St, Bugs and I peeled off back towards mine. We had lost Abba by this time. At Aldwins/Ferry i turned for the last grind home. Nice ride of maybe 25km. Better than nothing. All money is now in except for Nelsie and the Goat who is chewing the hedge about whether to come. We will not have Abba or Mother Ted on this trip, maybe next year though.

Sunday 5th July

I was never sure if we would get a ride in as the weather was forecast to be bad. When I woke up I only had 1 confirmed rider but after a quick text we had a good party. Tinkerbell, The Goat, Bugs, Geez and Silverfox all showed up and we headed up Huntsbury. Long slog really and I felt it all the way up. The first bit of off road was wet and greasy but a few made it up here. We knew that all the main tracks were at avoid or closed so we hit the tarmac and headed around to the top of Vic Park. We shot down Thompson's track which was open but wet and greasy like never before. Meant a bit of caution. We all cleared the double switchback even though it was greasy as. Rode the road up and around to the top of Worsleys. It looked bad from the top with water laying around as far as you could see. Put my seat real low so I could dab if needed and then we headed down. Goat leading then me followed by the others. Bugs going well for a first time down here. The mud was greasy and dodgy when thin but it soon got real deep in spots. Scary but filled me with adrenaline. Some tosser was digging his 4wd out. It was well stuck and he was pointing down also. He had lots more digging to get it out and my bet is it is still there judging by the rest of the track. I took deep ruts and flowed with the water. Got a good pace on in spots. The goat stopped and we did a regroup and looked at the mud on the rigs. Mmmm all needed a good clean. Carried on down, scared myself in a rut that turned into a mud hole of unlimited depth but managed to save it. Loose and out of this world near the bottom but then we still managed to get there with no offs. The tarmac run saw us clear some mud. Good speed carried into the steep bit of hill. Steady ride home from the bottom trying not to change gears. The single track from Barrington to Colombo was a river of bog and mud. Grinding noises on all the bikes as we rode. Got back to mine where we trickled water on the bikes and got the brush onto them. Funtastic ride in the end but I can not see the tracks getting opened this week. I see another road ride on Tuesday. Might need a beer along the way.

Thursday 2nd July

Another week of shite weather so all the main tracks closed and the word was Bottle lake is also shite, so I called for a road ride. Helmut and Te Rex arrived at mine about 6.15. Helmut on his road tandem and Te Rex on his sandy machine. I was on the cruiza. We headed over to Phatboys and hooked up with him and the Mellonfarmer. We headed around the river, into town, past Vic Square, then down Worcester, around North Hagley, past the Sickest place in town, back around the river and down the single track some people call Cashel Mall. As J9 was sick I split from the rest and headed home. They all went to Pomeroys for a drink so that is up to them to tell the story. All in all just good to spin the pedals and get another 20km in. Looks piss poor for the weekend but hope for some sort of hill ride.