Sunday 28th April

Tinkerbell and Silverfox picked me up and we drove out to Dot Com where we met Dozer.  We trundled up Richmond hill Rd and off onto the dirt.  I led us up via a sheep trail which was easier in spots than the main trail but steeper in others.  Continued up with a brief regroup below the shearing shed then up to the road.  We rode around the summit to the start of greenwood and headed in.  I had a great run through here and after stopping briefly at the ruins we headed down.  All of us going pretty good, regrouped at half way point then carried on.  Great run all told.  Then up Godley track and down the cut off run due to time constraints.  great wee blast and a solid pump over Scarborough for coffee and food.

Wednesday 24th April

Well its been a whole 1.5 weeks without a ride.  First a trust meeting then rain, more rain and a little bit more rain to keep us off the tracks, then I was unable to ride Tuesday.  Not even sure if anyone rode on Tuesday actually.  So, this morning I awoke, had breakfast and decided to go for a wee blast. Started by heading up Crapaki (started the climb up Rapaki Rd at 10.03am) and pushed myself steadily up the hill.  Lots of very old people running/jogging/stumbling down the hill.  Nearly called an ambulance for some of them!  I was at the top looking out over Lyttleton by 10.30 sharp.  Quite pleased.  I took a minute to stretch and then headed up over Mt Vernon Track.  Still smells at the start where the fire was.  Good pump and then hit the Traverse Track.  The most amazing thing was that the track was in great condition with only 3 puddles and no greasy spots.  No other riders out there at all.  Into Vic then down Shazzas before taking K2 down the hill for a change.  Top was greasy and a bit rutted while the bottom was just slick.  Down into the valley having to carry my bike over a few rocks to get past the digger doing some track work.  The guys working warned me to watch out for a loader coming up the track but i caught this on the way down but could not get past and the driver did not see me.  Slowed me down somewhat.  I still managed to be out and at the end of Bowenvale Ave by 11am.  Not a bad blast.  Gave a pump on the road section home before jumping on the cruiser and doing a couple of clicks with my girls.

Sunday 14th April

Phatboy arrived at my place at 6am, we then watched rugby, had breakfast and headed outside to hook up with Texas, Tinkerbell and Silverfox.  We headed by the normal route via the cut and the track behind ferrymead buildings to Ferrymead bridge.  A quick stop to loose jackets etc before joining Nelsie, Mellonfarmer and Dozer at the beginning of St Andrews hill.  A good steady climb up here with 1 quick regroup at the big hedge before continuing on up to Upper Major Hornbrook. for a wee regroup at the start of the singletrack.  Weather was awesome for riding.  From here we climbed steadily (Phatboy following me up, giving himself an honest work out) to the corner of old John Brittan.  Mellonfarmer and Nelsie in their haste overshot.  I made the hairpin and tried to coach the others around it.  Plunged on around the track to the road then down to the saddle before climbing up and over the new Mt Pleasant track.  This time the usuals were in the lead and Phatboy led me up the hill.  Great climb with a peestop at the top.  Then it was down the otherside to Greenwood.  I love the top section, just twisty and rocky spots with the tussocks obscuring just enough to keep you excited.  Into Greenwood for real.  Fast paced action, but for some reason I was a bit skittering through the rocks for a change.  Regrouped half way down when Nelsie decided to fill up his empty rear tyre.  Fast paced blast down from here then up Godley.  Really pleased with myself, cleaned 85% of the first rock section and 100% of the rest.  Stopped at the first cattlestop then down the farm track, across the road and onto the singletrack from here.  Cleaned all the sections where the hairpins used to give issues.  Up over Scarborough and down to Dot Com for drinks and food.  Then homeward we headed spotting Sandals and Helmut out for a Sunday Stroll on town bikes.  Excellant sprint over the causeway then a break up as people headed in different directions.  The last of us returned via our usual access way.  Great to have Phatboy back on the bike.

Tuesday 9th April

Bugs rode to Rubberjaws place where he meet Silver fox, Dozer and The Cook. Silverfox’s light had crapped out already so Bugs loaned him one of his 3. The happy party of 4 headed off towards Rapaki. Joined the queue of riders, runners and a rabbit and off up we all went. Couple of rolling regroups on the way up. 3 off us found the wind cold at the top but The Cook thought it was nice. The Cook headed around the road to The Traverse while the 3 amigo’s headed up the single track over Mt Vernon. Regroup at the start of the Traverse then headed around towards the pond half way around. After a brief discussion we headed back the way we came but dropped down to Old Skool. Great and not so great run down here with us all adjusting to the narrow track under lights. All arrived at the gate at the bottom of Bowenvale still in one piece. Rode back across town with Silverfox peeling off 1^st then The Cook and Dozer going his own way as well. Bugs arrived home about 8.45 having rode 24km.

Saturday 6th April

An out of town adventure.  Starting and finishing at Castle Hill village.  We went from some members of PFMTBC to some Pretty Fecked Mountain Bikers of Christchurch.

The story begins... We started with Sandals, Dozer, Bugs, The Cook and Tinkerbell meeting at my place.  We loaded into 2 vehicles and started out towards the mountains.  Mellonfarmer passed us on the Old West Coast Rd on his way to hook up with Nelsie at Sheffield.  A short stop for fuel, coffee etc at Springfield and we continued on to Castle Hill Village.  Leaving Nelsies car there we loaded him and Mellonfarmer into the original 2 cars and drove to Broken River Skifield Carpark.  It was cool but fine.  Sandals immediately lept onto her steed and took off. We all followed along Sidle 73 (a new track for most of us).  This started with 2-3 grunty switchbacks before easing off to a sidle track which spits you out on Craigieburn Skifield Rd.  We climbed this at  a steady pace, catching Sandals along the way.  This was an easier climb than it was for me last time.  Never got down to Granny which was good and although it goes on forever it was a nice way to earn some downhill.  Finally we made the carpark at the top.  Time for a snack and photos showing how close to the snow line we were.

 From here a small climb past the chalets and lodges to the Edge track.  Great run down here, crossing scree slopes....

 clambering round narrow ledges and over logs....

 more scree slopes, with the last being a bit more tricky than the others.

 Shortly after this we started the climb to Lyndon Saddle.  This starts as a gnarly steep grunt but soon steadies as it goes through a clear patch covered with speargrass and tussocks.  A regroup at the saddle and some food was taken. Nelsie and Mellonfarmer shot up to helicopter Hill and after waiting a bit the rest of us headed down the Luge.

 The Luge is a favourite of mine with a fast run down over some techy tree roots, dodging between trees.  So much fun with the front four all staying close until I took a wrong line over some roots.  Panic set in and Dozer passed on the right.  Took a moment to recoup my mind and then set off to the bottom.  A regroup as we waited for the boys.  From here we headed up the road to the start of the Dracophylum Track.

 The Drac Track is a super cool fast flowing downhill run.  I have done this once before and it is so gooood. Nelsie got stung shortly after starting but we just carried on past him...sorry Nelsie!  So much grinning going down with a regroup after a sketchy off camber near the bottom.  Blasted down the last stretch then across a new bridge.  Now started a real adventure for most.  New Tracks.  We headed up to Dracophylum Flats.  This involved some grunty switchbacks and steep sections. Way to earn your ride really!

 The Drac track was a sweet ride across pretty flat land before heading into the forest and another steep grunty climb.  This was on some newly built track bypassing an unrideable section.  Steep but well built.  This spits you out at another frost flat before going into some new track.  The Missing link.  Awesome fast flowing run down here where it spits you out at a creek crossing.  I cleaned this which breaks an old hoodoo for me.  A small regroup of the original 6 as the speed kings had shot off again.  Bugs needed to change breakpads. So  Dozer and Bugs stayed while Tinks led off  followed my me then the Cook and Sandals behind.  From here we then headed onto the zigzags of the Hogsback.  (Tinks waited for the repair crew before coming up after the rest of us..) Steep little grunts with one really steep section in the middle. I cleaned all but 20 mtrs, as did Mellonfarmer, while Nelsie, Tinks and Bugs cleaned it all. The others either walked or rode bits of it.  A big regroup.

 From here it was a bit more climbing, nothing too ball breaking but we were all feeling slightly tired by now.  This led us into a sweet downhill run that was so awesome.  I was leading at one stage, Bugs or Tinks  at others, but there was a small group charging together.  Absolutely bloody awesome.  We stopped for a regroup but then Bugs and I gave chase to the fast boyz as we were drivers and thought this made sense.  It was a fast blast over some ground a couple of creeks and then the last climb to the tree where we found the fast boyz.  We all took off towards the last downhill.  Oh so much bloody fun.  Charging through trees, missing some narrowly, smell of Bugs brakes and little jumps and twists.  So worth the ride.

 We made it back and Nelsie, Bugs and I headed of to the cars while the others ate, stretched and rested.

Loaded up and drove back to town making 1 stop along the way......

This  being at Sheffield Pie shop for some last minute words and food.

Awesome ride, long day but must do this again soon!!

The womans ride

On Saturday the 30th March after postponents and much hassle this event took place.  Alas some people decided to do other things, some had plans already and some were unexpectedly detained.  The main thing in was Mrs Dozer and missus Rubberjaws joined their partners, Sandals and the Cook for a ride.  We met at Pomeroys at 1 for a drink before heading off slowly into town.  Stopped for some sightseeing at the Square before ambling around a bit until we reached The Astro Lounge.  We stopped here for some refreshments before taking a route through Hagley Park ending at Dux Dine.  We were joined by Mrs Abba (formerly Mother Ted) and Daughter Miss Abba.  After a giggle or 2 , another drink we headed off towards Lincoln Rd taking in a bit of hagley Park.  Stopped for a tipple at The Pedal Pusher which does not have a bike rack.  Shameful!!  From here we meandered to Beers and Burgers for Dinner.  Shithole and bad food.  Then on the bikes to Ciburb bar.  At the point we dropped to 3.  Mrs and Rubberjaws joined the Cook for a final drink, a bit of music, a look at the future on NZ straight off a party bus before heading home.  A nice day and an easy ride.

Monday 1st of April

After postponing Sundays ride due to the weather we headed out.  Sandals, The Cook and Silverfox met at mine and the four of us headed off.  We went the usual route around the Heathcote cut, behind Ferrymead until we reached Ferrymead Bridge where we picked up Dozer.  The day was warm with no wind as we started up St Andrews hill with all of us doing well.  Bloody minded me decided to turn right up Marama Cres to see what I could see.  Everyone followed which surprised me.  It was a short sharp shock really.  Really spun my way in sprint mode, gasping at the top.  Slowed for a regroup and then started on up the road again.  We  realised that Dozer was missing as he stopped for a phone call so found some shade and rested til he caught up.  Heating up all the time still with no wind we continued on up the road at a steady pace.  Eventually regrouped under the big hedge where the road splits before heading on up towards Upper Major Honrnbrook by the single tracks.  I took the farm track to the right at one point which is actually faster with out being steeper.  Stopped for a breather in a small breeze before hitting the single track.  Good steady ride until the hairpin into old John Brittin Track.  I have a route in my head to get around here in future.  Dozer and I went right here while the other 3 headed towards the Greenwood track for an easier run.  We agreed to meet at the ruins.  Dozer and I meanwhile continued on. The track over Mt Pleasant which has had some work done.  Teddington chip has been laid on the gruntiest climb at the beginning.  Still a grunt but easier to do.  We clambered our way up and over Mt Pleasant with some funny times as we lost the track coming down.  Hooked up with the team and headed down Greenwood.  The coolness of the down was nice.  great run, smiling all the way to Evans Pass.  Some fork trouble for the Cook was looked at before clambering up Godley Track to the first cattlestop.  We headed down the farm track, crossed the road and then down the singletrack to Taylors Rd.  Nice whoopy run.  Up and over to dot com to drink and eat before the ride home.  Stayed at a steady clip until the causeway where I spun it up.  Silverfox and The Cook stayed on my tail but I could spin no faster.  Only time I ever miss my 3rd Big ring is on this section.
Around the reverse direction of Ferrymead and home.  Good ride but bloody hot.