Tuesday 29th January

Picked up the Cook and we headed around to Taylors mistake where we hooked up with Phatboy and Dozer for a bit of fun.  I led off up the tail with 1 wee dab then up the zigzag path of the Anaconda.  The 1st new berm is steep and grunty (but so are most of the berms) but in short order we had a regroup half way up, debating to continue on the track or take a really old line. We took the track in the end, cleaning it all but the cattle stop is a bit of a grunt with a big lip now.  Up we clambered with a regroup at the road.  We decided to head out to Godley above the road.  I led again with Phatboy right behind then Dozer the the Cook.  At the rocky steep climb there is a track heading left which I took.  It avoids all that nasty 4wd track.  It is very narrow which makes it technical but slowly climbs around the face of the hill.  Phatboy and I ended at the top of the 4wd downhill and waited.  No sign of the others.  Eventually we saw them down near the road so we blasted down the hill to meet them.  From here it was a fast blast around the singltrack below the road to the Anaconda, an even faster blast down with Phatboy leading for the first time tonight.  The last berm needs work cos 3 of us had front wheel sliding moments.  Down the tail then home.  Great short wee ride.

Sunday 27th January

I drove round and picked up Bugs before meeting Dozer and Tinkerbell at Dot Com.  Just a small posse.  We headed up Richmond Hill Rd at a steady clip.  It certainly broke the sweat out.  Had a small regroup in the shade before heading onto the dirt.  I led the way over some sheep trails which bypassed the steep climb to the tree.  I thought it was easier but then who am I to really know.  Continued back on the trail to  the top by the shearing sheds and out to the pines.  From here we went the farm track to the start of Greenwood where Tinkerbell led off.  Great blast down here at a good clip.  Dry and rocky, passed Tinks who got a flat (bring on tubeless), while Dozer stopped to help him,  then following Bugs into the rocks.  He wahooed when he cleaned the first and while I looked up I rode into the rock instead of between it.  fail!!  The 2 of us then rode up the first rocky section of Godly and stopped to wait.  Great watching everyone fail on the rocks at the bottom of Greenwood.  When Tinks and Dozer joined us we all headed up and over the tracks.  Bugs having a flyer on the track down to Livingstone Col.  I flew up the next climb (the fastest I ever have. For some reason it just felt easy.) and then straight down the other side. Regrouped briefly and then down the snake.  First time in ages.  I led and was giving chase to a large posse who go a good start.  Caught the  first of them going into all the bermed section then caught the rest on the snake.  A steady but very hot climb out of Taylor's and a bite to eat  and tea at Dot Com.  We were pulling out of Sumner by 12.  Good ride.

Tuesday 22nd January

I collected the Cook and headed up to the Sign of the Kiwi where we met, Dozer, Bugs, Tinkerbell, Texas and Phatboy (for only his 2nd ride of the year).  We did a grind to  the top of Marley's ( I managed to keep up with Phatboy) with everyone arriving nearly together and then straight into the 1st run.  This was one of the best actually with Phatboy first, me and then the others breathing down my neck.  Quick time.  Back up for a 2nd loop.  At the top there was a big group  so Phatboy and I sneaked ahead of them.  Me chasing hard until the first of my oopsies (no fall, no dab just caused me to clench) slowed me a little.  Regrouped and up for 3rd lap.  I rode up with The Cook for a cruise.  This run was another good run.Another moment. Back up for the 4th run which was gonna go all the way.  The Cook and Texas waited at the halfway point and joined in after I went past.  This run was awesome and quick.  I nearly went over the edge as I started the bottom half, too fast into a corner, front wheel took a while to bite so I clenched the cheeks again.  Some work has been done in here, some I loved some not so good.  We were feeling so good we went back and did another loop of the bottom half.  This was fast until some downhill moron slowed me down.  Why is a full face helmet and a grunty bike does not make a ride go fast on a downward track?  All felt good.  Coulda, shoulda didn't do another loop but went home feeling great!!

Saturday 19th January

Dozer, The Cook and Bugs arrived at my place bright and early so the four of us set of towards Tinkerbell's. We headed across the Opawa Footbridge, around the edge of Hansens, Port Hills Rd then a right and left over the footbridge and thru Beckenham Park. We then headed around the road over another footbridge past the Library and around the edge of the river to Worsley Rd.  Arrived at Tinkes to find the Mellonfarmer had driven.  The 6 of us headed around Cashmere to Halswell Quarry.  Mellonfarmer lead off up C2 with a regroup as it meets the Crocodile, before leading the way up there. It got hotter the further up the valley we rode.  Regrouped at the top before heading up the next climb.  We all dabbed on the one shitty little shoot half way up here before bombing down Siberia for another regroup.  Then it was climbing all the way at a nice easy pace to keep us all bunched up as much as possible.  A couple of quick regroups along the way before the nasty little climb to the top.  Quite a few of us cleaned this, (I did for the first time I that I can remember)  Quick chat before heading up to the road, along towards Worsley and up to the top.  The Cook was feeling it here so he waited while the rest of us did a loop of the top of Marley's.  I got a jump on the rest and had a nice wee ride down here.  Not my fastest but pleasant.  Grind back to the top again.  None of us caught the guy on a big downhill rig who pedalled up just ahead of us, (he was power assisted with a battery motor helping him).  Some were munching on food at the top but the wind caused us to quickly head off down the Body bag then right up the hill to do F Club.  This was pretty greasy in spots and I had my second dab for the day.  Decided to flag the bottom and do the bottom of B Line which was not to bad.  The Cook twinged his thigh just at the bottom corner of this but we all rode up and out for a drink stop at Tinkerbell's.  Followed the route we took to get here in reverse.  Home by 1.  Nice ride but very hot at times.  Estimate 40Km

Wednesday 16th January

Normal blogs will begin now.

I collected The Cook and Bugs, then headed up to Upper Major Hornbrook where we met Dozer and Tinkerbell.  I was about to bust in my new virgin front wheel (which matches my new rear wheel).  I led up the Lower JB track.  Bigger gear was used so it felt good.  We turnt right into the main John B track with me trying to loop t so no stopping.  Up to the top for a quick regroup before finishing the track and down to the New Mt Pleasant track.  Leading up here felt good but stopped for a mini regroup at the top of the steep stretch.  From all it was pumping to the top.  Was I faster, I felt it but one never knows.  We then regrouped before the down.  The Cook was struggling with an injury from the weekend but pushed on.  The down was great, cleaning it all, swooping through the tussocks really starting to work out the fastest way to ride on this track then left onto the Greenwood entrance.  1 little dab.  We regrouped at the start.  The Cook decided to head home as it was downhill from here while the rest of us reversed the track.  I led with Tinks charging after me.  Pumped hard then up the hill.  I dabbed twice which pissed me off.  Dozer not happy hitting every rock.  Walked the last rock section before over the fence and to the top.  Still 1 section here that I need to work out.  The guys took off while I closed the gate.  Chasing hard I finally caught Dozer, but was not able to catch the others.  JB and down.  Bugs taking a straight line approach from the top so chasing hard then cutting a corner near the bottom to catch him.  Fun finish to a great ride.  Even with all the up this track is one I find enjoyable for the challenge.  Wheel did well.  Felt lighter over the rocks, rolled faster.

Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th

I know this is out of order but some of the lads road on Saturday.  Up St Andrews, New JB and outto Godley via Greenwood.  They came down Annaconda with The Cook taking a spill on some new switchbacks at the bottom.

Then, on Sunday...
To avoid the heat of the day, Tinks arranged an early start, four meeting at top of Worsley Rd at 8.30 - being Tinks, Buggs, Texas and MellonFarmer.  They got going up the track, Texas having a couple of tumbles (one where Tinks cut him off), moseying all the way up to bottom of Bodybag then heading off up for the BCDEF-lines.  Took the lefthand, "F-Line" down, MF stopping a wee ways down wondering if the others had gone the old way, taking off his sunnies at the same time it being so dark in the forest.  They'd also done the same and soon got down to him, and they all headed off again.  On down, grooving all the grooviness, then peeling right, across into the Club de Fight, loving the crap out of it all the way out to the bottom.

Back up the nice climb to the mains again and MellonF led them down my Dave's Track, steep bugger that it is.  A couple of sections baulked MF this time, but he managed his shoulder-crashpoint, tho not the next bit before the final chute.  Tinks got most of the steeps, but Buggs and Texas need a little practice.  Otherwise a great steep bugger of a downhill, followed by a grunty crunchy climb out, MF cleaning it grannywise for the first time with no walking.  Tinks rode it pretty much all too, alas the other two didnt quite have enough in the tank.  No worries guys, first time MF'd managed to ride up it all!  (and i dont know that he has since!)

Back up round the rest of the climbs back to the top again and they headed off down back to the cars.  All in all a good ride, short, but sweet.  Back to Tinks's for coffee. 

Rubberjaws Holiday rides.

I was up at Marahau again and ready to keep myself in bike shape and to keep the new wheel spinning.
Ride 1.
I headed around the road from camp to Kaitetriteri, about 8km of up and down.  I headed into the MTB park, surprised to see a new track for the start. I headed around Sidewinder, into Swamp Monster onto Glase Runner, Revelation then I headed up Ziggy.  This then allowed me to ride up the newest track called Corkscrew.  This tarts with a little downhill run before climbing up to the top of the hill.  Lots of switchbacks with a few extra switchbacks for luck.  I loved this track really giving it a nudge.  At the top I took the forest road up before taking the forest road out to the Kaiteriteri/Marahau Rd and a quick run back to camp.  2 hour loop at a steady pace.
Ride 2.
A couple of novices from camp agreed to come for a ride so Janine took the 3 of us up to the top of Marahau/Riwaka Rd.  From here we took the fire Rd up and around the top.  I spied a track called upper corkscrew and put that aside for a later date.  We headed down the Corkscrew at a steady pace.  I noticed a track to one side called Dive and thought I will try that later.  At the bottom of cork screw we headed down Big Airs (me getting some Big Airtime) the around Revelation, Gladerunner before heading out a track called Cruise Control.  Easy track but good to give it a pump.  This took us to Half pipe which took us out.  We did a sightseeing visit to the Kaiteri Camp which is shit before taking the 8 km ride up and down to Camp.
Ride 3.
The 3rd ride in 4 days.  Even my day off consisted of an 8km hike.  Janine dropped me off at the same point as ride 2.  After gaining the altitude I took upper Corkscrew.  This is a short steep run with some great jumps. Just have to watch the sharp left hander before the last chute.  Miss this the jump will kill you.  Then I headed down Corkscrew as fast as I could.  Took the hard right into Dive which goes straight down the hill, Cyathea dealbata slapping my face before a couple of hairy turns.  Then the little climb out of Corkscrew before turning right up Big Airs.  This takes you onto Skullduggery which isd a great narrow traverse track.  Watch the dropoffs though.  From here onto Bayview then Tank and a left into the downhill track called Remedy.  This is like the F line.  Fast and furious with a jump over Gladerunner straight into Shady Lady, onto Revelation then up Ziggy and Corkscrew and down the fire road and back to camp.  Awesome pump and I was feeling fine!!!!
Ride 4.
Me and the novices went out again.  Janine dropped us at the top again, They went down Corkscrew and I took the same lines as day 3.  When I came out of Dive I headed up Corkscrew to meet them.  We all then continued down and to the start before retracing our ride back up the corkscrew again.  Came out the fire road once again.

The tracks up here are developing rapidly and the Corkscrew gives you easy access to some great downhill runs.  They are looking at adding 2 more tracks this year.  Oh I look forward to my next holiday.

Sunday 13th Jan

Hot morning, so Tinks organised the ride for early, 8.30 start up top of Worsle's.  Reasonably well documented on MellonPharkers blog.  Buggs, Texas, Tinks and MF were the only punters.  Rode up Worsley's, TExas crashing on the climb, a couple times?  bottom of the body bag up onto F line, whooping all the way down to the climb out, then it was a new one for all except MF, down the trail that MF did his shoulder on a couple months back, socalled Dave's Track or in MF's case, ACJoint.  Too steep for most.  MF even had places he'd ridden before that he baulked on.  This is one steep mother of a track.  then a tweaky wee climb out, walked in sections by some, and then back up round to where they'd come down off Fight Club and back up and then down and out back to the cars and a convoy back to Tink's house for coffees.  Done and dusted nice and early.

Tuesday 8th Jan

Prior to this date there may have been a ride or two had by members of the group, but none such that they would likely be called 'group' rides...  Sandals led an expedition through the Hog's Back, Buggs did the Craigieburn at one stage, and Rubberjawns toodled about Kaiteriteri a few times, while MF's blog documents his summer adventures...

This Tuesday, 8th, at the same time as Nelsie and MellonPharmacist were riding, a few members, including Tinks and the Cook and Dozer and i'm not sure who else, rode up Huntsbury, round the summit, maybe did a lap of Nun?  and down through Vic and out.