Sunday 15th December

I jumped on the bike and headed out towards Sumner cutting down Radley St then through the park and along Woolston Cut where I was joined by Bugs.  We headed around the tow path behind Ferrymead and out onto the road at the Ferrymead Bridge.  We stopped and chatted with Dozer and Mellonfarmer while the four of us waited for Phatboy.  We saw Tinkerbell and Silverfox drive past on the way  to the meeting point at Dot Com.  Finally Phatboy arrived and with the schedule blown by 10 minutes we set off.  A bit of a spread as we entered the causeway but a steady pace was on.  As we progressed we started passing riders at a furious pace and with  one last group in sight I put the pedal down passing them along Peacocks Gully.  Arrived in Sumner  to  find the lads mentioned earlier and Sandals well rested from the drive over. We had made up 5 minutes on the ride. Where were Bugs and Dozer?  We were wondering if one of them had got a flat when the text came in that they were starting a slow grind up Richmond Hill.  Off we went.  Quite a hot grind up the hill with a regroup  in the shade of a tree near the top.  Then it was to road end, over the fence and up the farm track.  Mellonfarmer and I setting the pace with  Silverfox close behind.   At the shingle I buttoned off to allow the others to catch up while M/F, the fox and Phatty boy rode on to the gates.  When all were regrouped off to the Summit Rd, crossed this and climbed up the farmtrack to the top of Greenwood.  A wonderful ride down here, no stops except the dab at rock one ( for me) and out to Evans Pass for a regroup.  Sandals had slammed a rock and was starting to feel it in her hip.  We then headed up the Godley track having mixed success on the first rock.  The old line is now the preferred line.  Around the trail we rode to the top of the first climb for a regroup before a fast blast down to Livingstone Col, regrouped and then I led off up the next wee climb allowing Mellonfarmer to pass before the downhill to breeze Col.  Fast down here and the  fastes i have ever attacked PFMTBC rock.  front wheel off the ground over the front, (Mellonfarmer did the same).  At breeze Col, Sandals headed down the snake  while the rest of us headed out to Godley Park via the top sheep trail.  Awesome little ride, fast blast down to the carpark where we regrouped before a fast run back to breeze Col.  From here we attacked the Anaconda.  Wonderful run down here except I nearly lost it on the new dumb hairpin at the bottom.  Locked the rear up and slid it round.  Down the tail for a quick regroup before the hot climb out of Taylors.  Sandals met us at the top before we chased the cars down the road.  Nice little run around the Esplanade before some stupid old cow decided to be rude and ignorant at the ramp. I hope her ears turn to arseholes so she shits on her own shoulders.  I was now having a fe gear issues with some skipping happening.  After having tea, coffee, milkshakes and snacks at Dot Com, trying to adjust my gears we headed home.  gears were causing issues and I dropped off the back.  Got home at 1pm and decided to fix the issue properly only to discover that it was not the gears but a broken link and I fixed it myself.  Great ride and felt great at the end.