Tuesday 29th December 2009

The last ride for the year. I picked up Jay (a guy Phatboy and I met at a Steiner evening). He has a new Giant Reign. We drove up and met Dozer and Te Rex. We waited and were just about to set off when Phatboy arrived with Alistair in tow. He dropped A at the top of Worsley then raced back to park. The rest of us cruised around, sweating a little from the heat and reached the start of the single track. Could see Phatboy pumping hard to gain on us. We dropped in for our first run. I had a good run down, getting all the air I could, trying to hold a good pace. Jay followed but I lost him somewhere, Dozer came in next and then Phatboy. Te Rex had lost a bit of ground somehow. Regrouped and then headed back for another run. I followed Phatboy in, holding on real sweat then my hand started to get sore and was having trouble holding on. Got down OK and then we regrouped. This time we had caught Alistair. Chris arrived also so we all trundled up for another blast. I tail ended cos of my hand. I got down to find that there had been some excitement. Jay had flipped off his bike which nearly hit Chris in the head about half waydown. I caught and passed Alistair who punctured. Jay had buckled his front wheel quite well. I decided to stop here as I could ride no more with my hand. Phatboy, Te Rex and Chris went for another blast. Dozer went home and so did I after dropping Jay and Alistair at the top of Vic. Who knows what happened after this.

Happy New Year to you all. Hope to catch those in the know at Bugs' on the 31st.

Tuesday 22nd December

Bugs arrived promptly at 6 and as we were setting off we get word that Abba is on his way. We waited by the footbridge and saw him riding down the street, bottle of beer in hand. At least he put it in someones recycling bin. We set off on the road ride (due to the bum hand), down thru Waltham, then the Poly tech, up High St and thru the Square. Not much to look at really and very few people about. Past the Arts centre and then a figure 8 of North and South Hagley Park. Pretty quick blast round here except when we got the head wind. The basket of the 3 speed was like a sail. Round the river we went, Abba causing an Asian girl to jump out of his way into my path, I swerved just in time to allow Bugs to run over her. (He actually missed her just). Over the Bridge of Remembrance where we tried to run down a bus load of Asians. Round the river and lo and behold what do we see. pomeroys. We stopped for a quick drink which became 2. Chatted with the owner about sponsorship. We may get some shirts yet. Also said our farewells to Skye who is returning home to Canada. Abba chatted about his favourite shower styles and we discussed normal everyday human behaviours. Sick puppies we ride with. The word is that Bugs will host drinks at his place on New Years Eve. Bring you spa clothes if you wear them.

Merry Xmas to one and all.

Sunday 20th December

Silverfox and Abba met at mine at 8.45 promptly. It was warm with a chance of a storm. Interesting. We cruised around via the park and river to pick up Bugs. Our slow ride out to Dot Com was more of a pump. The slack asses passed us on the way. Phatboy and Mellonfarmer at least rode from Redcliffs while Tinkerbell and Dozer met us at Dot Com. A quick stop in the shade and off we went. I cleaned most of the step area and only dabbed when I caught up to the guy in front. Pleased me it did. From here it was the usual cruise. Abba and Dozer followed me while the others crept ahead. Stopped in the shade a couple of times as it was bloody hot. My hand started to ache quite bad on the way up and I nearly did the road around to the Anaconda. I did not though and although my hand got f....'in sore I was happy I did the single track. Rode well although I did notice a couple dabbing a lot. Abba sneaked off at the top of Evans and went home tired out. I took the new line above Livingstone Col only to find out it goes nowhere. Bummed out I was. From there a quick up and over to Breeze Col and a blast down the Anaconda. We all did well coming down. Great to be out. A haul up to the top of Scarborough and a blast down Nicholson Park. Some tosser in a car caused a bit of a problem for me coming down Whitewash head Rd. Lovely stop at Dot Com. Some chick tried to chat with a couple of lads and although they saw her lips move no one could hear what she said!! Then The Fox, The Rabbit and I rode home while the others drove as their part towards Global Warming.

Sunday 13th december

Just 3 wee fellas today. tinks, Geez and I went out for a road ride due to me being a disabled fella at present. Headed out through the Poly Tech, down the mall, through the square and a circuit of North Hagley, across the road and a circuit of South Hagley. Wow a whole 35 minutes. What to do, check out bikes that do not have the words jamis on them. Bike HQ was shit with poor service and extremely high prices. The Bike Warehouse had some nice Meridas on display. From here a coffe and C1 and then home. Not a lot but better than sleeping in bed, due to Staying out a tad late. What do you reckon Phatboy??

Meanwhile, that evening, Nelsie and Mellonfaacker went for a proper ride with chiorboychriss.

Remember, Pomeroys 7pm on the 15th for Xmas drinks.

Sunday 6th December

Just 4 wee fellas today, Phatboy, Mellonfarmer, Tinkerbell and I. Due to our boycott of Rapaki Super Highway we rode the valley track below. It is a track that has no bikes signs on it but we closed our eyes at these points. We chatted to runners and walkers and they were cool with us being here. The track is steep in spots, rutted and technical. It was a blast except for the mugginess. Could easily be formed into a good uphill. We rode, pushed, carried and dabbed our way up the valley. It was tough but for some obtuse reason I enjoyed it. About 3/4 of the way up I lent into the side of the hill, put my hand out and my thumb went crack. (off to get it checked today as it hurts and is a tad swollen) This made braking, changing gears and riding up a bit difficult but I got to the top. I took the road around to the traverse while the others went over Vernon. From here I took up the tail end charlie position and followed. Had to put it in an easy gear and leave it as impossible to change gear. We met up with the D/H boggin racers and decided to head down to the skidder site via the Gums. I decided that I could not handle the intense discomfort (it bloody hurt) of using my breaks on a downhill run so headed out via the road. Tinks came with me and we met up with the other 2 at the end of Bowenvale. Off for coffee before heading home.

Thursday (actually) 3rd December 2009

Well a few of us were out for a ride. Between us we had all got a small ride in on Sunday with Geez out to Bottlelake, Silverfox for a jaunt around the Summit and Marleys and Phatboy (on Grandad) and I (on the 3 speed) blasted out to Ruapuna, and not forgetting Mellonfarker's play in the wet.

Last night the 4 of us met up at Allandale Hall and then drove the last bend or 2 to Living Springs. A first time for Phatboy and a first daytime ride here for the rest of us. We had word that Helmut was coming down from the Summit Rd and would meet us at the highpoint on the track. We headed around to the 4wd track and then up this grunt. The track was dry all the way which was a surprise after the rain. Last time most of us had walked the 4wd section cos it was wet, slippery and seemed real steep. This time it was easy to ride the whole thing although still a grunt. Then into Pines. Love this track. Phatboy blasted up here followed by the rest of us. Got to the top and Helmut was there waiting. A bit of a catch up and then we were off. Once again all the downhill was in good nick and quite dry. Totally rideable. Great blast down. I dabbed twice, although one could be called a baleout as my front wheel slipped on a tree root. (turns out Helmut had the same problem, on the same root both runs) From here all was good until the last bridge where Phatboy was off, fixing his front tyre which had caused a scare. It had dropped all air suddenly on the downhill entrance into the bridge nearly throwing him off into the stream below. Good recovery saw him save himself from this awful fate. I caught up to Helmut at the bottom and we waited for the others to come through. Off we went for another round.

Round two started well. We all blew Phatboy off,....on the uphill, then Helmut blew Phatboy all by himself. Gosh he can blow well.!!!!!

The truth is Phatboy had Helmut problems.

Anyway we rode up quicker than the first time. I thought gosh, The Fox and Geez were a bit slow. Turns out the Fox stopped to help Geez with a bike problem. No one could help as the Jamis, Yes the wonderful Jamis had broken again. 4 times this Jamis has broken in the same spot. Who would buy a Jamis any more? Poor bastard should buy Jamis walking shoes rather than a bike! He walked back while the Fox caught up to the rest of us. A lovely blast down, cleaning the whole thing easily. The riders in us were all happy, while Geez had hung around at the vehicles to show us the Famous Jamis. A bit of a chat and then homewards we went.

We dropped Helmut off, said Hello to Sandals and admired her backside.... of her home where the new courtyard will be. Helmut has been working on her backside.. of her house and it is looking rather good, Although he went to deep and created a big hole. A bit more work will fix this though.

Dropped off the Fox and then home for a bite.