Sunday 25th April Anzac Day

After a wet Saturday I was wondering if the tracks would be open, they were. Phatboy rung and said oops broken derailleur on the way will go home and fix then catch you up somewhere. Sandals said she would meet at the bottom of Rapaki. The others showed up. There were Bugs, Dozer and Silverfox. We cruised off to Rapaki where we noted that Sandals had an 8 minute head start. MellonFox led off and we all followed. Up up up at a steady pace. We caught Sandals just at the start of the last grunt. We talked her into stopping to remove her jacket just so we could catch our breath and then trundled on up. Just resting when Phatboy gasped in. He had pushed hard to catch us. Up around Vernon which was nice and dry then across the road and onto the traverse. Good blast with me leading. More puddles here than anywhere else and always where you can not avoid them. Then down Thompsons and up the Tarmac to the bottom of the nun. Here was where we were doing some track work. Saw the Lone Wolf and Te Rex working on the track. Great to see so many there. People everywhere. We headed up cleaning drainage spots, widening the lines and even creating our own PFMTBC jump and deviation. It was great. Go up Tuesday for loops all going well with the weather. By 12 we decided our time was up and we headed down the track to the Kiwi then up to the top of Vic and down Sesame St and Dazzas. The tracks were slick and slippery. After Dazzas we went round the hill above the Nationals and then down some other track, steep and slick. A couple walked. Down and to the end we went. A great ride with good results in the work.

Sunday 18th April

Morning dawned nice and fine and we all met at mine. Silverfox, Mellonfarmer, Phatboy, Bugs, Dozer, Sandals, and Tinkerbell. We set off around the river, the back of Ferrymead and then into McCormacks Bay. Started the grind up the valley. Its steep in spots and steeper in others. The challenge was good. I cleaned a good deal of it, starting going wrong on a couple of hairpins. Most of the group cleaned it though. Then into John Brittain. No signs saying do not go up here. Steep steep and steeper. Cleaned 95% and was amazed at Sandals control and determination. Through the poo and then out onto the road, fast blast down to the Castle Rock track. Great uphill climb here. Dabbed just at the end. Blasted around to Witch Hill, dabbed once and then kept going. On Mt Vernon I took the track by the hairpin which just makes so much sense. Led around the next section of easy track then followed then led down into the Gums. We then did Dazzas into Brents. My favourite at the mo. Take any line you want, hit the jumps, miss the trees and just go hard. Round Bridges etc and then the high line at the end. Cool downhill. The others should start doing this to challenge themselves. Out for coffee and home by one.

Sunday 11th April

I headed out the door at 8.45 to find Te Rex and Silverfox had just arrived. We rode around the river track, back of Ferrymead and towards the Causeway. Dozer drove past and then he parked up and rode the causeway with us. Head wind all the way. Phatboy joined us at the surf club and we rode to Dot Com in case anyone else arrived. Hit the road at 9.30 and headed up the grunty Richmond Hill Rd. Plod Plod Plod. At the top we took Richards Track down into the valley and up the other side. Passed a group of walkers and grunted up more hill. Passed two duos of riders coming down for a change. At the top we passed a group of Army engineers doing Army engineers stuff in Greenwood park.. Te Rex and Phatboy took off on the tarmac to the start of Greenwood. I heard some comments like Mellon Rex and Mellon Phat. :) We were passed by a group of 4 as we had a brief stop. I led off, fell off at a spot I never even dab at and I still don't know what happened. Chased down the group before the ruins where we stopped for a bite. let the 4 go ahead and gave them a big gap. Phatboy led then me and the others. We caught the 4 by time we reached Evans Pass. Straight up into Godley Track good run and into the Anaconda. Blasted this, chasing Phatboy. Thought the others were right behind me but at the bottom it was just us 2. I had to head straight down the tail as I needed a loo. Turnt out the Silvefox had punctured. We all regrouped at Taylor's before the run up and over to Scumner. Phatboy broke a chain at the top of Whitewash Head. He fixed this and caught us at Dot Com. Tinks came out for coffee with us. Good ride, I was stuffed at the end though.

Easter Sunday 2010

Time to work off the Easter Eggs. I was expecting Dozer and a friend, Nigel as everyone was away or had advised they were out. Twopot showed up with a mate, who's name I forget sorry. I was surprised. Nigel's bike is a Kona Stinky about 50lb. He used to ride in Auckland and has never ridden since arriving down here. Oh dear how was he going to ride up. He tried and failed but he pushed it all the way. We headed up Rapaki at an easy pace due to Nigel. Nobody on the track as it was cool and overcast. Heard from the Lone Wolf who was out for a ride. About a third of the way we hit drizzle but plowed on. We soon got passed the weather and reached the summit. Twopot was a wee bit tired as he had not been uphill for a while. I led off feeling fresh as a daisy, pumped hard and cleaned the lot. Twopots mate and Dozer following then the others. Dozer had an off but I missed that. Regrouped at the road above Bowenvale. Gave some directions to a bunch of Japanese riders who were heading out to Godley off road. They were gonna struggle due to the wind. Blasted around the traverse, stopped to show Nigel the Lavas Flow then blasted off again, feeling really good, hitting everything well and using the gravity Dropper on the downhill sections. Sweeeet. Piss stop above Vic the around to Marleys. Twopot and Nigel pushing up the track while we others rode round. Turns out that twopot rode most of it. Then down we went. Nigel coming into his own, whooping and hitting things but I rode hard and loved it. Up we went to the top of Vic. Down again, Nigel doing two runs so he could hit the jump again. Down Dazzas and into Brent's, I hit jumps through here feeling so good. Round Bridges etc and I did the steep section and the Hospital drop. Cool. Up the hidden track and down Bowenvale. Got a bit worried as Nigel went missing coming down. He missed a corner and down a bank. No injury but grass caught in his full face helmet. Cruised on home all happy.