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!!
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