Tuesday 30th July

Last ride for the month and another ride under lights.  Picked up Cookie on the way and headed up to the Sign of the Kiwi, finding most of the team there and the other 2 pulling up straight after us.  As we started the climb to  the top of Marley's there was Nelly, Phatboy, Tinkerbell, Silverfox, Bugs, Dozer, Cookie and I.  Up the hill in quick time with Nelly and Phatboy doing some alternative lines and then the shuffling for position started.  Down we went, most of us complaining at the bottom that our lights were not in the right position or we did not see well, but basically we had the first run blues.  Up for a 2nd lap, this time all of us were happier.  Third run was all the way to the Kiwi.  Great blast down, first I discovered Tinkerbell pulled over (chain off) then I saw Dozer laying in the bushes, (clipped a rock and off he went but he was fine) so I continued. Great blast loving it.  We all discovered a new berm or two in the lower section of track.  Oops.  Pay more attention.  I changed down for the last slope to the road, chain off then it snapped.  Bugger. The rest of them all arrived discussing how good Dozer looked laying in the bushes.  I decided not to do anymore, Cookie came with me while the others went off for another loop of the bottom to inspect the changes.

Sunday 28th July

Woke up fresh as and headed out side to warm up.  Tinkerbell and Silverfox arrived right on time (at this time Sandals texted and advised she was starting up the hill as planned) and we headed around the river to hook up with Dozer and Bugs at the bridge by the Woolston Cut.  From here we headed along the usual route behind Ferrymead warming up all the way.  Hooked up with Phatboy, got rid of jumpers and jackets and headed up St Andrews Hill.  Start time 9.30am.  Good grunt heading up, Bugs and I headed up the steep Marama Crs while the others went the normal route.  Marama is shorter by a fair bit. Kept cranking up the  hill with a short stretch by the bus stop on Major Hornbrook.  From here a short burst up to the single track where Sandals was waiting at 9.50.  Good solid climb.  We tootled up the Lower John Brittan track then onto the upper.  Everyone mad the hairpin even if a couple made a new one.  Cleaned the  techy section and loved the track.  Down to Cavendish saddle then we climbed to the Gondola.  First daylight climb and this seemed steeper than it was in the dark.  Stopped at  the Gondola and some had a bite to eat before blasting back down.  Phatboy making a wrong turn before getting back on track.  From here I led up Mt Pleasant.  Loving the climb and feeling grand.  Regrouped and rugged up at the top before starting on down.  Phatboy had a woops just after the rock turn as did Sandals.  No problems so continued the blast, then into Greenwood.  Loving the flow and the rocks, past a couple of riders who knew we were coming.  Stopped at the hump after the cattlestop.  Left enough room for everyone to get into the mud and Dozer put in a nice slide without knocking anyone over.  Led on cleaning it all except thumping my knee on the 2nd rock.  Onto Ct Thomas we went.  Loving it but did not clean it all but whats knew really.  Down the bottom we hit some slop but not much then out to Dotcom for tea!!  Good pump home with a slight head wind.  Home by 1 sharp.  Lovely to have such a good posse for the ride.

Tuesday 23rd July

Another chance to ride and only 3 to ride.  Bugs and The Cook arrived at mine with light spots of rain dropping.  It was meant to clear so we headed off up Rapaki.  Nice light pace up hear, me grinding in a bigger gear to keep me honest.  Same inconsistent rain pattern all the way.  A quick regroup at the top then we split.  The Cook did the road around to the Traverse track while I led up over the Vernon track. The rain was a bit heavier in the cloud and you could see more coming in.  Quite a good blast over the top giving it a nudge.  Got to the road ahead of the others and watered the plants.  We had decided to head down Huntsbury due to the weather but did this by heading along the traverse and hanging a right down the hill.  This was a tad greasy which made it interesting.  Safely made it though and then discovered The Cook was still at the top unsure of where to go.  He made his own line in the end.  From here we continued down taking some wet greasy lines above the main track.  Water flicking up and water coming down from the clouds.  Onto the tarmac with lotsa water flicking up, wet greasy tarmac but fast run anyway.  From here we went up and over the knob of Port Hill Rd and then around to the brewery for a couple of pints.  Nice to get out.

Tuesday 19th July

Dozer arrived at Bugs place to attempt the ride from last Tuesday.
Headed around river towards the bottom of the Rapiki. Meet the Cook who
was waiting at the bottom. Up we headed into the dark checking out the
view under lights. Made good time to the 1st gate where beanies came off
before continuing our way up. Nice steady pace to the top. Turned right
at the top and up the tarsal as the tracks were all closed. Down the
Huntsbury track with Dozer & Bugs taking the odd muddy track though the
paddocks. Quick run down Huntsbury Hill. The Cook pealed off at the
river while Dozer and Bugs headed to the pub for a beer n Pizza. Might
be a Tuesday night habit.

Tuesday 9th July

Dozer arrived at Bugs place around 6 as everyone else was busy do this and that. Weather was looking doggie and starting to spit as we headed towards Rapaki. As we got to the bottom of Rapaki the drizzle turned into a steady down pour. Quick chat on what to do then turned left at bottom of Rapaki and headed up Centaurus Rd, Port Hills road and stopped at The Brewery on Garlands Rd. Headed into the warmth to find The Cook and Rubberjaws there dinning with a couple of ladies. Pizza, beers and a couple of hours later we headed off back into the now heavy rain and rode back to Bugs place and called it a night. Short, wet ride with a few nice beers in the middle. 

Sunday bloody Sunday 7th July

I rode around the river towards Ferrymead, collecting Bugs at the footbridge down from his.  We then pumped our way to ferrymead Bridge where we collected Phatboy.  From here we gave it a serious nudge out to Dot Com.  Very good pump.  Hooked up with Tinkerbell and Silverfox before the arrival of Mellonfarmer.  headed up to Sumnervale finding the new Ct Thomas route.  This leads up the valley through some seriously boggy track (will be great when dry) and then up some zig zags (found out that the track is 6% grade) to the old Cpt Thomas.  Great to finally ride up here.  Could see some damage and dabbed a few times in spots previously ridden.  Will get better I am sure.  At the top we headed out Godley.  Feeling fit enough but dabbing at times and slipping once in a spot never before slipped at.  The wind was blowing us around a bit but this is what riding is about.  Great fast blast down to Livingstone Col and up the other side.  The bottom of this was wet and soggy for a change. Quick blast up the hill and then down the other side to Breeze.  Phatboy nearly lost it on the cattle stop.  We then headed out to the car park via the sheep trail.  The wind playing havic with my riding as the track was narrow and the wind was strong.  Down and then back below the road.  Expecting the wind to be bad but it was a great run.  Then down the Anaconda.  Great run down here, nearly dry all the way.  In the bottom few switchbacks it got real mucky and we ran into Nic the Ranger doing some repair work.  Apologised for riding the track and then carried on.  Nice wee run and then started the grunt over Scarborough.  Pushed hard the final climb and we continued for a fast blast down.  Into the final hair-pin it was mellonfarmer, Phatboy then me.  Mellonfarmer went around then Phatboy and I heard a crunch and saw his bike go across the centre line without him.  Oops.  Got around and he was up and off to one side.  Skinned and bloody.  Seemed ok but took it easy back to Dot Com where we reviewed his injuries.  Lotsa skin missing on knees and elbows and hip.  Ouch.  We all got a lift home instead of punching into the wind.  Good ride.

Tuesday 2nd July

Nearly a full posse ride.  Silverfox and The Cook were bundled into the van with me and we headed up to meet  with the rest of the team at Upper Major Hornbrook.  Phatboy, Dozer, Bugs, Nelsie and Mellonfarmer.  We then headed up the Lower John Brittan track.  It was in OK condition except for 1 or 2 soggy bits.  I wobbled letting a couple pass me but other than that a good pump.  At the junction of Upper John Brittan there were attempts to make the turn which I cleared.  Up here was  a bit damp and just before the trees Nelsie suggested an alternative route.  We all agreed and so over the fence and up Broadleaf to where the track joins the access rd.  A regroup and then we headed down towards Cavendish.  Good blast down here until the last corner that a few of us missed ending up off piste.  So lucky no one did an over the handle bars.  From here we got onto a track up to the Gondola Station.It was a great climb with a few grunts.  After a regroup we reversed direction blasting down then we headed back up over  Mt Pleasant.  The Cook headed up the road and back to the van as his knee was starting to play up.  The rest of us had a good grunt up the hill and then blasted down the other side.  Pleased with how it went really.  At the top of Greenwood we split into 2 groups.  The manic bunch and the cool group.  The manic 3 of Phatboy, Nelsie and Mellonfarmer headed down Greenwood for their own adventure (see here for details) while the cool group headed up and over Upper Greenwood.  This was quite quick with only a couple of boggy bits.  We then headed around the bend and then down John Brittan.  Quite a blast knowing that there were a couple of loose greasy spots.  Safely back to vehicles and then home.

Saturday 29th June

A solo ride today as everyone had a reason not to ride to the Eastside Bush planting.  I headed up Rapaki in the cold.  It was real cold and I did not loose a layer until the flat area 2/3 or the way up.  Past a few walkers but no riders.  It was quite quick climb.  Straight into Vernon climb which was dry but once I started the Traverse it was getting greasier all the time.  The Gully just after the Lava Flow entrance was ice and I even got some sideways movement in here.  Quite slick all the way to the pines.  They have also done quite a bit of repair work recently which is keeping the track in shape.  Dropped down the main access rd through the gums and stopped at the rest area/skidder site.  Once evryone assembled I then rode down to the planting site.  Bloody cold planting.  After I rode back up, stopped for the BBQ and then rode home.  It was tarmac all the way.  All the rangers made a point that tracks were closed and in need of some major work.  Cold on the way there and cold on the way home.