20th July

I picked up Silverfox and Sandals and headed up to Sign of the Kiwi where I was hoping to find Phatboy but no. I drove up the hill and he was not there either so drove back down to Kiwi and he had arrived with the Little Phat. We headed down Old Dyers. Phatboy, Little Phat, Me, Silverfox and Sandals. Phatboy had light issues and as I caught little Phat he cut in front. Nice run down here, sketchy being the best word. Regrouped and then headed around, across dyers and climbed into Vic park. Silverfox had a gear problem that Phatboy fixed. little Phat played on the jumps before heading up the grunty section (we took the walking track beside it) Up we went panting and grunting. Past the jumps park and up the Worm to the top. We dropped down Thompsons which was fun as usual. Climbed slowly to the top of Marleys. Same downhill order as the first but the Phatboys swapped order. Little Phat had light issues so Phatboy stopped with him to sort it out. I continued down with Silvefox chasing. What a run, screaming down here holding on, all of a sudden i seemed to pull away. Turns out Silverfox stopped. I continued as hard as I could all the way to the Kiwi. Sketchy, getting the jumps and loving the moment. The others all rolled in after a bit. Awesome ride. We then went home happy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sunday 17th July

Wow what a day. If you were not there you missed an awesome ride. Phatboy picked Sandals, Silverfox and I up on time and we headed up Mt Pleasant Road. We hooked up with Te Rex (he rode from Hornby) Dozer and Tinkerbell. We headed around John Britten Reserve and regrouped before coming back. Ages since we went both ways here but very enjoyable, all pumping hard. We then headed up the first bit of Greenwood. Once again all hitting it at pace, feeling good and the gap from front to rear rider was less than usual. We regrouped at the farm track before the ruins. Headed down this and then cross country to the top of Jollies Bush for a look. We headed down this interesting little track, enjoying it. Some awesome steps and I was pleased to master one lot. Yahoo I was on a high. We regrouped at the road where Phatboy wondered how to get over an attack of native nettle (Onga Onga or Urtica ferox). Up the road to the Pines. We then headed down this track for a change. Phatboy led to the first fence where we all stopped and had a laugh about everything and nothing just cos we could. I led off followed by Silverfox who was charging. Down over the fence and then down the side of Clifton (I think it was Clifton). We have come up here but never gone down. Exhilarating and at speed awesome. Feeling good we headed down across and up onto Richmond Hill. Clambering up here following the sheep trail then up and up to the road where we climbed up to Greenwood ruins for a bite to eat. Everyone feeling on top of the world. The weather was perfect, the sun was shining and we still had a good downhill to go. Phatboy set off at pace, closely followed by me then the fox and others from there. Fast we were not missing a beat, until a regroup point where the Fox had to fix a puncture. We watched some other riders go through and as we had time we cheered one who attempted the rock challege near the end twice. gave him a cheer. Phatboy then led off again with the pack in the same order. I made a mistake of following too closely and missed the rock climb (dabbed at the top) due to having to bleed off speed. We were flying. Stopped for another giggle and a look over the harbour before climbing back up to the top. I was not as good at the climb as I was at coming down. Phatboy and Tinkerbell cleaned a nice nasty section on the way. Regrouped a couple of times. I failed in the technical section and walked across the slope to miss the worst of it to my shame. Still better than recent excursions though. From here we blasted across the top section and back to the cars. All in all a great ride and it will become a regular route maybe mixing it up and doing different directions. fun, fantastic and oh so fast. Enjoyed it all.

Sunday 10th July

Silverfox arrived bright and early and we drove around to Phatboys. We hooked up with Mellonfarmer, Dozer and Sandals (with Shoes). The six of us spread out in 2 cars and headed out to Mt Grey. Mellonfarmer said we would like it so most of us were a bit wary. This had been said before. It turns out he was right and I put it down as the 2nd best ride this year. The first being the Rameka at New year. We had a pleasant drive out and unloaded at Lake Janet before heading up Mt Grey Road. As we rode up we could see the snow sitting on the top and it was a tad cold. I stopped and walked a couple of times to stretch the back but this hill is 100% rideable. It goes up and up. At the top we passed all the aerials etc before mellonfarmer led us onto some snow covered single track and I was in heaven. This was sweet track and I felt at one with the bike. The switchbacks (and there are a few) were the downside but these were made up for by the long flowing stretches, weaving in and out of trees, hardpack, rocks, mud and tree roots. it had everything. We all enjoyed it and at every regroup people were smiling. Fantastic feeling. It was sad to finish really but we did. We then headed back to the cars via the road. Mellonfarmer got there and bought the ute back for poor little old me. I was nearly there but it was kind. Good choice MF and we will do this more often.

Tuesday 5th July

I picked up Silverfox and drove out to Mcleans Island where we hooked up with Mellonfarmer, Phatboy, Twopot, The Cook, Tinkerbell, Dozer, Bugs, Te Rex, and Texas. 11 of us makes a big posse. We headed in and those who could go flat out took off while the rest of us broke into groups and hit out at best pace. Regrouped once then carried on. A few took the extra river loop while I carried on followed by the others. We stopped at the overpass and waited (felt like forever) for the fastboyz to catch up. Took off around the Coringa Loop which started working our legs over those awful lumps. Regrouped and back to the carpark. This ride was about fitness more than anything and although there was lots of frost about it was really enjoyable. I felt like I went better than Sunday and so I am happy. We will be meeting regarding the trip at Phatboys garage on Thursday 14th

Sunday 3rd July

Finally a day to really ride. Phatboy, Mellonfarmer, Bugs, Tinkerbell, Silverfox, Dozer and Texas showed up at mine and we headed off in the frost. It was so cold my face hurt. We headed up Gruntsbury. Everyone feeling the first climb in ages and me feeling the effects of my back to go with it. In fact me holding everyone up was more than likely a good thing for most of the team. We eventually got to the top where we were joined by, Sandals, Helmut and Jandals. We headed around the traverse which was very enjoyable. I picked my own pace and everyone was full of smiles at the two regroup spots. Down Thompsons and then a qick toilet stop at the Kiwi. Climbed the road to the top of Marleys before we headed down. MF, H, and PH all did the full loop while the rest of us did the top half only. This was greasy but oh so much fun. I did not even stop for a regroup but just started the grind back up. Not feeling flash at this point. We all regrouped at the top of Worsleys then down the body bag and into the b route. This was enjoyable and we all did the bottom half for a a change. Nearly nutted myself getting off the back of the bike. We then went down the road and onto the side track at pace before heading home. People all dropping off as we went to end up with just Bugs, Dallas, Dozer, Tinks and I at the end. Nice to be out but all comfortably worn at the end.