Tuesday 28th September

Phatboy n MF treadled the length of Linwood Ave and round to Bugsy's, finding him, Silverfox and Sandals ready to ride. Rubberjawn was off being wined and dined somewhere fancy. We headed round the ferrymead singletrack, then off up Mt Pleasant Rd, spreading out pretty good but regrouping a couple times and then layering up up top before hitting the Greenwood goodness. All did very good, once again, some better than Sunday. fanged it, railed, popped, roosted, relishing the dry singletrack. quick reqroup midway, til Sandals rounded into view, then off again, cutting through the lower section even smoother and faster than before. cleaning both little rocky ups and floating from there on down. whole ride was totally on form, felt great. Sandals took off down the road, due to light issues, and the rest of us headed into Capt Thomas, once again, feeling very good. usual baulks, the odd dab, then great cleaning of all the rest. quick regroup in the middle and into the rest of it, great times. first night ride without lights (cept for bugs and silverfox on the homestraight)then the slog home, head winds, once again, but not quite as strong as sunday.

Sunday 26th September

1st day of daylight saving so was tired from this and had been sick all night and ended up trying to sleep on the couch which did not help. Still I got up and rode. Met Sandals, Tinkerbell. Bugs, Dozer, Silverfox and the Mellonfarmer out front and headed out towards Scumner. Went around the river behind Ferrymead and I said to the Fox about Mulgens Track and he was keen. So we put it to Mellonfarmer who agreed so we headed on up. What a grunty, steep and nasty track. We all dabbed on the corners somewhere but cleaned all the steep bits. Dozer twisted his ankle getting started on a steep bit, but continued with us. Got to the top and then up Panorama Rd and then up the steep rooty section to the summit. We then rode the summit and into Greenwood park which was dry and firm. Good blast here. I was chasing MF who was riding well. Great blast down to the road. I was stuffed and wanted coffee and after some chat we decided this was the option. Down Ct Thomas where I had a near miss. Pleased I recovered. Blasted down with it pretty dry all the way. Coffee and then a stinky ride over the causeway into a nasty Nor west. MF hit the ave while the rest of us rode the Ferrymead single track and then home. Great ride although tough. Pleased I made it. Happy Birthday for Sunday to Phatboy.

Tuesday 21 September

Phatboy and Mellonfarmer met Bugs, Dozer and Silverfox at his house. Off up Worsley's they all chuffed, all doing well. the ruts and ridges were challenging and enjoyable, the odd bit dabbing all. three cleaned the body bag, one with a blow out part way up. on up to the Nun then blazing away, weed-eaten grass strewn all over the whole track now. grass and lights making it a bit tricky. Phatboy had issues, his handlebar mounted lights had been flopping forward on every bump. he sorted the lights at the carpark and on down to the kiwi they flew. up the road, ignoring the Thomsons, into Vic, flowed down the first bit, mellonfarmer took the see-saw, then into Brakefree, all yumping and swooping round it, then they hit Sesame St, the landing off the Wall nearly wiped out MF, then into Dazza's, and Flow and once again New Bridges, and out the bottom. A southerly blowing them down Bowenvale and a change maybe on the way

Sunday 19th September

A small group (especially after last week) met at mine. Dozer, Phatboy, Tinks and I set off up Rapaki. Phatboy setting a pace that we could not match (although he stopped to let us catch up), which caused us to push ourselves harder. We got to the top in a smart time. Sandals sent a text saying she would meet us at Marley's. We then set off over the Mt Vernon Track. This was nice and dry. Cleaned this nicely with no dabs so I was feeling good. A quick regroup and then we hit the Traverse Track. Fast and flowing through here. Stayed on Phatboys tail all the way, he stopped to take photos of us at the pond but by time he got off his bike we were already past him. A quick regroup and then onto Vic Park. Down Thompson's and to the Sign of the Kiwi. We then started the climb to Marley's. Sandals was at the lower car park and joined us. Marley's was fantastic with only one puddle. Got everything including the rock face and felt real sweet. Fast charging flow to the bottom car park for a regroup and then Phatboy led off again. He dropped his chain on a rise and I continued with him chasing. Carried on all the way down old Dyers which was a mess. Mud and water everywhere. Near the bottom caution was needed. Climbed back into Vic and snacked at the new tables before going into Dazzas, climbing to the bottom of Cool Runnings and then around to Nu Bridges and out. All cool down here and feeling good. Stopped for coffee before going home. Mellonfarmer had ridden earlier so maybe we will see him ride with us sometime soon.

Sunday 13th September

The first big off road adventure since the earth orgasm. A large posse arrived at mine. Lets see, their was, Bugs, Tinkerbell, Dozer, Te Rex, Silverfox, Sandals, Helmut (with his arm in a sling), Phatboy, Twopot (big surprise here) and me. Helmut drove up to the start of Huntsbury off road while the rest of us rode. grunt grunt grunt. Up we went, and it was warm. We did a bit of jiggling for position so we could avoid opening gates but we made it to the top. Te Rex standing in the pedals all the way while Helmut rode one handed. We went left around Mt Vernon, a bit wet in spots and I must say I was not handling it all that well. lotsa dabs. Phatboy streaks ahead. Then over Witch Hill, I was starting to get my eye in by the end. We then went on to Castle Rock where an Angel was being photographed on the rock as we went in. I led off down the track which was a bit wet and rutty in spots. Stopped after the first hairpin for a group look at what was left of the Rock. Big slip here with the hillside scarred all the way down to the Bridal Path. On we went with my eye now in. Rode this whole track well. We regrouped at the end and then doodled around the road to John Britten Reserve. Stopping for some photos along the way. I took off skirting the rock slope and then stopped at Greenwood entrance. We rode onto the ruins for a regroup with Tinkerbell doing some off piste passing and Phatboy leading. I then had the best ride I have had for a while. I led off and was flying, Phatboy chasing with camera rolling and I was not sure how anyone else was going. That's the thing about being in front you can not write much about anyone else. I took good lines and just let it flow. Had a couple of dabs in some muddy sections but wow I enjoyed it. Regrouped at the road before heading down Captain Thomas. This was wet wet wet all the way. I balked at a couple of bits, Tinks led some of the way but we had fun the whole way down. Finally near the bottom we let rip and hit the steps to have our photo taken by Helmut who had ridden the road down with Sandals. Stopped for coffee before a hard pump home. Stuffed at the end I was.

Tuesday 7th September

Due to no ride over the weekend cos of a little 7.1 earthquake on Saturday at 4.35 I needed to get out. Felt skittish as hell and was pleased weather was not great over the hills. Bugs met at mine and we rode over to Phatboys and then onto Mellonfarmers to pick him and the Choirboy up. They had been on the hills earlier. We rode around the river looking at the destruction. I was amazed that I and most of my friends seem to have come out so well while others have been torn apart. It makes me feel sick to think of those who are suffering so. The roads are more like a jump park. We did not go far and headed back to Pomeroys quite quickly for a beer. Home by 9 for a nice relaxed sleep until my world was rocked again this morning.

Tuesday 31st August

A few unable to ride and Silverfox running late and yes the tracks were closed so what do we do. Tinkerbell, Bugs and I rode over to Silvefoxes. Trying to work out what the irritating noise was in my tyre. Could be the Stans has gone hard and is rolling around in my tyre. Anyway we went up Hackthorne Rd, Bugs doing an impression of Mellonfarmer or Nelsie while the rest of us grunted away. from here we went into Vic Park up the road, (never ending in the dark). We then took a left and rode above Dyers Pass Rd, chatting to a couple of runners (the only people we saw). This was a good roll and Tinkerbell set the pace. From Sign of the Kiwi it was up the Summit Rd and along. Pumping steadily, stopping to put our sleeves on as it was a bit breezy. Saw a few boyz in their carz. Fast downhill to the top of Rapaki and then, Oh my God look at the time, and down we went. Brakes screaming along the way and home by 8.15. That was all I wrote.