Tuesday 27th march

Nearly pulled out of ride but ended up driving around and picking up Silverfox, then up to Sandals place to find she had already gone. Drove to the Kiwi and in short order Bugs, Tinkerbell and Dozer arrived. We headed up the road finding Sandals halfway up. From here we continued up to the top of the hill. We sorted out an order and headed down. Theres been some work done since last time I was up here. I had a very average ride with my mind not on the track. The others all seemed to be doing ok. At the middle point we headed out and climbed back to the top. I decided that I would head all the way down to the Kiwi while the others did another short loop. I found Silverfox just down the track with a puncture then nearly ran over Tinkerbell who is finding all sorts of problems with his bike (only because he has ridden a new bike) and then stopped to inform the rest about Silverfox and his flat. They headed up while I headed down. The track was so busy it was hard to find a gap. Good run down to the van. Silverfox showed up on foott due to yet another flat. Shortly the rest joined us and we headed home. Lights needed next week.

Sunday 25th March

SIlverfox texted to say Rubberjaws was taking The Cook to hospital as he was knocked off his bike Sat evening after one or two to many after the rugby. Silver fox then heading to my place for a lift to Dot Com. Meet Dozer, Sandles, Tinkerbell and then Phatboy. Lovely day for a ride. Was a day to ride all the tracks we were not to ride. Headed up Richmond Hill in a nice group then onto the farm track all the way to the top. Sorted into a order of some kind and started the decent down closed track 1, Bugs snapping his rear Derailleur cable that left him with a 2 speed, big and very big gear. Headed to the bottom where we meet on the road. Phatboy has done a roll in the long grass some where on the way but was fine. Everyone else seemed to have good bit's and not so good bits. Hit closed track 2,3 & 4 with no one clearing them all. Phatboy doing another roll and landing on his sore hands from some another mishap. Tinkerbell wished he had another 3 inches of wheel. Dozer had a few issues with every rock. Regroup at the top of closed track 5 and very quickly headed down till nearly at the beach. One rut still being a pain to some off us. It even had some mud in it this time. Off on closed track 6 with Sandles taking the lower line and all meeting up in the carpark at Taylors. Headed up the road, Bugs flying ahead in his big gear. Might use that gear more often as it was a lot quicker. Coffee at Dot com then home. Great ride

Tuesday 20th March

Silverfox arrived at mine and we loaded up and headed out to Taylors. Arrived 2 minutes early to find Dozer looking into the distance. Was he seeing anything is the question. We then heard Phatboy arrive with Scrapster Boy, Mellonfarmer and Nelsie, followed by Bugs and Texas. Rode over to the fence, clambered over it ignoring any signage and headed up the tail. Good climb on something I normally struggle with, regrouped at the bottom of the Snake before heading up. Good steady climb up here for all. of course we were spread out with the young bucks up front and the masters (or the steady climbers) at the rear. I enjoyed the climb up here which we have not done in soooooo long. regrouped at the road, and to ensure we got all the single track with enough light we headed around the road to Evans Pass. Nice steady climb before a bit of down. Up the single track of godley head. Phatboy cleaned everything. Others nearly got there. Great run around here although I dabbed on things I cleaned a couple of weeks back. Down to Livingstone Col then back up and around over the PFMTBC Rock to Breeze col and then down, down, down. Excellant run down for everyone, all pumped and wired. Silverfox excited to do this track again. Down the tail before climbing over the fence and chatting at the vehicles. Awesome Tuesday ride and back at the cars with just enough light.

Sunday 18th March

Many of the team not riding so Meet the keen ones at the end of the tarseal up the Worsley. There was Texas, Sandles, Dozer and of cause Bugs. Started the climb up though the gate and onto the 4WD track which got our hearts racing. Brilliant day for riding. Sun, no wind and a dry track. Stopped at the normal spots with some clearing most of the track and some having some problems. Hit the body bag just as the wind was picking up. Bug's cleared it with the others running into a few problems at different spots. Up to the top of the Nun. Sorted out the order, Dozer 1st to clear the way, followed closely by Bugs so he could film him, Texas was next followed by Sandles. Went all the way down, then back up the road for a 2nd run. Change of order this time. Texas 1st followed by Bugs on the camera with Dozer n Sandles not to far behind. Back up road to top of Body bag, quick run down here then into Bee line. Nice following ride down here till we meet the walkers having a picnic in the middle of the track. Dropped down the steep side with a couple of us riding it all except one cnr. Back up the farm track then down the last bit of track. Texas slid out on one cnr but no injury's this time. Back at cars round 12.15. Quick coffee then home by 1pm. Great, fun ride. Bugs

Thursday 16th March

Phatboy and Scrapster arrived and loaded myself and The Cook up. We headed over the hill to Allandale before riding into Living Springs. Scrapster and The Cook were both Virgins on this track so the first climb up the 4wd took their breath away. it took mine too!! Nice climb up through the trees to the top before coming on down. phatboy led. I did not have my eye in and was a bit slower than normal but still enjoyed. We regrouped at the rock before finishing the loop and grinding back up. It was a bit dim in the forest on the way up and pretty dark on the way down but we all made it safely. Much faster run this time, feeling better and pumping hard. With darkness falling we headed down the 4wd drive to the car. The cook laughing hysterically at one point as he went over a rutted section (no control) and made it in 1 piece. Good ride but night lights are rapidly approaching. Charge those batteries boys and girl, cos we gonna need them.

Sunday 11th March

The group at the bottom of the Snake.

A shower in the early hours sent panic through the ranks but by 8.30 all was looking good. Phatboy picked me up and we headed out to Dot Com. Met there by Twopot, Little Ivan with no helmitt, then Tinkerbell (with a loaner 29 to test) Dozer. Bugs, teaxas and finally Sandals with Helmut the Walker guy!! We all headed up Richmond Hill Rd at a steady but pace. Quite a few had not been on the bike for a few weeks due to war wounds. Up through the farm park via the 4wd track and onto the Summit Rd to the start of Greenwood. I was about to get to test the new stoppers. We followed Twopot around to the ruins where we did a quick regroup and then followed him down from there. He had a small off and I jumped in front followed by tinks. An awesome run all the way down from here. Brakes working good and as I got used to them found that i could brake later with great control. need to watch it though as they work so welll!! Cleaned both the rocks at the bottom. feeling pumped. Regrouped here before heading out on the Godley. Offically closed still but we were going to break the rules for the first time in 15 months as so many others have been doing. Blew the first rock although Tinks got it but we both cleaned the next section which was good. Steadily climbed around and up, dabbing once before blasting down to livingstone col. I had forgotten how quick you can travel down here. it was awesome. Regrouped before i led off up the next slope. At the top I dabbed on a rock and Tinks and Phatboy got the jump for the downhill. Fast and Furious was the order of the day. Finally got to hit the PFMTBC rock in anger. it rolled perfectly. Dozer took his own line over it and we all decided that his line is not the one to take. Time for the snake. I led off with others in hot pursuit. faster and faster we went and into the lower section with the big berms. Flying high on these then hard on the brakes first for mud then mud and rut but what an awesome run. High fives at the bottom. Did the tail which was in good nic too! Then the grind up from Taylors. Sandals went past connected to her 4wd driven by helmut. A cheat but looked good. A fast run down the road and back to Dot Com for coffee. Awesme fun ride.

Tuesday 6th March

As written by Bugs
Meet Marie, her son, Robin, Tony and Mark at car park at bottom of Flying Nun. Mark wasn't riding as he just had a operation on his neck from a past bike mishap. Wayne & Andy arrived just as we were about head off. Most of us rode up to the top with the odd person getting a lift from Mark. Started off 1st loop which was a very fast lap for most of us except for Tony who got a flatly. Rode back up for the 2nd loop with heaps of other riders doing the same thing. Started the second loop hot on the heals of Andy till the 2nd cnr when there was a pinging from the back wheel of the giant. Broken Spoke. Limped down to the car and cut the loose bit off with the tin snips in the car. 3rd loop was a full one down to Evans. Great fast trip of everyone. Good to do the full thing with no stopping. 4th loop was another flying run till just after the rocky section 3/4 way down. Someone was doing work on part of the track and had put a wheel borrow in the middle of the track to force everyone to take the B way. Problem was if was on a fast blind cnr with a 90 degree bend. Most managed to make it except for Wayne who cocked it up and ended up with a grazed knee and sore elbow. FInished the ride with a few Bears in the car park that Andy had brought. Great night on a great track. Bugs