A return to Craigieburn after 5 weeks of anticipation. Phatboy and I headed up in the Ford while Bugs loaded Dozer and Silverfox up into Steel and Tube. At Sheffield, Nelsie, Mellonfarmer and his mate called Tom joined the convoy. A quick reshuffle at Castlehill before unloading at the Broken River car park. Then it was into Sidle 73 for a steady beat across to the Craigieburn access road. A few ice patches and even some frozen snow in 1 spot. From here a steady climb up to the skifield. The usuals out front and Bugs doing a steady pace with his trip backpack loaded up as a test for next week. I turned around at the bridge to check on Silverfox and rode the last stretch with him for company. We hit snow before the last hairpin and this got a bit deeper as we climbed to the start of the edge.
Only riders to go through here for sure. The first scree slope was covered but as we descended it got better. An awesome run down here stopping as Tom repaired a puncture on a scree slope.
Finally climbed up onto Lyndon saddle for a wee break and some food. The Luge was a fun blast down with the roots and track wetter than the last visit. Surprised at how much grip I did have though. Regrouped and then climbed up to the Drac Track. Fast and furious once again passing Mellonfarmer (punctured), Nelsie and Tom (waiting for the repair to happen. At the bottom I immediately led off as the fast 3 could chase us down quickly, (or so we thought). Grunted the climb the across Drac Flat we discovered a sign of things to come. The ground had been frozen but as it thawed we found mud giving us no traction. Slipped our way through here then gave it a grunt up the new track to the top, passing the pink girls and stopping for a rest. The fast 3 caught us at this point. We then headed down the missing link. Great blast down here, across the creek and then grunted up the climb on the other side. I cleaned this which is better than last trip. Up the Hogsback we went. Most stopping along the way either due to cramping, tiredness or as in my case, no traction. The track was getting slippery. Anther big regroup before starting the last real climb.
This was insane. Slippery mud, wheels spinning, no traction and on top of this the mud was sticking to everything it touched.
A regroup at Picnic Rock before starting the downhill. This was still very muddy but faster than I thought it would be. You became more confident with traction as the mud was flicking off. You felt it across your back and in your face. Some gravel sections helped. Climbed to the fallen tree getting faster then blasted down to Castle Hill. Not as fast as last trip as traction was not the same, open sections were muddy but still so much fun. A real mountain bike adventure in the mountains.
Got back to the cars and changed before heading back to Sheffield and the pie shop. Home form here for a deserved rest. I felt bloody good, paced myself better on the original climb so had plenty of energy. Bring on dry weather.
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| Scree slope photo shoot |
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| Phatboys rock |
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| Rubberjaws |
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| Dozer |
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| Silverfox |
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| Speaks for itself |
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| Rest time after a grunt, Mellonfarmer and Silverfox |
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| A real seat for Rubberjaws |
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| Nice view |
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| Nelsie resting |
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| Muddy on the bikes |
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| Bugs looking pleased with himself |
Only riders to go through here for sure. The first scree slope was covered but as we descended it got better. An awesome run down here stopping as Tom repaired a puncture on a scree slope.
This was insane. Slippery mud, wheels spinning, no traction and on top of this the mud was sticking to everything it touched. 
A regroup at Picnic Rock before starting the downhill. This was still very muddy but faster than I thought it would be. You became more confident with traction as the mud was flicking off. You felt it across your back and in your face. Some gravel sections helped. Climbed to the fallen tree getting faster then blasted down to Castle Hill. Not as fast as last trip as traction was not the same, open sections were muddy but still so much fun. A real mountain bike adventure in the mountains. 
Got back to the cars and changed before heading back to Sheffield and the pie shop. Home form here for a deserved rest. I felt bloody good, paced myself better on the original climb so had plenty of energy. Bring on dry weather.
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