Sunday 20th April

Another day of sunshine but all the good tracks are still sodden so a good road ride was organised.  pretty much a repeat of my solo ride last week but this time we had The Cook, Phatboy, Dozer, Silver Fox and Tinkerbell along.  Good pace all the way stopping for a few regroups along the way.  The Cook feeling a bit off due to his overnight fall and the big gark on his chin. At Upper Major Hornbrook we decided to stay on the tarmac as it was pretty wet last week and looked even worse this time around.  Down Richmond Hill staying off piste most of the way and then down to Dot Com for drinks.  Homeward after this with a cracking pace over the causeway before Phatboy headed home via The Avenue.  Good ride in some sun.

Tuesday 15th April

Tinkerbell sent a text out to meet at Phatboys for a town ride as the weather looked bleak. Bugs arrived to find Dozer waiting, then The Cook arrived, Phatboy came out into the drizzle and Tinkerbell arrived. 1st Night ride for us all. Headed around the river working our way towards Hagley Park. Arrived at the Armagh St entrance. Turned right and did one complete lap of North and South Hagley. Arrived back at Armagh St entrance with about a minute between the 1st and last guy. Lap two, same order, same loop, about 14-15 minute lap. Thought the runners were saluting us but really they were blinded by our lights. After a bit of texting Phatboy decided to head home while the rest of us did a 1/2 lap and finished at Oxford Terrace. Followed the river though town working our way towards Pomeroy's. Stopped for a nice pint, crackling and Chips. Then back on the bikes and Dozer headed for home, Tinkerbell headed to Phatboys, Bug's and The Cook headed down Linwood Ave towards Home. Nice 1st night ride with a little drizzle. Home by 8.30.

Meanwhilst, at 6.30 ish, the Mellon Pharmacist took his pooch out to Bottle Lake and spun around there under lights with him...  After a stop over at Parkland's Fresh Choice for some beverage purchase, he too was home not long after 8.30

And the following night, without dog, Nelsie and Mellonpharmer went out there again, this time doing a larger, but faster, loop.

Sunday 13th April

A week of rain and all the tracks closed or at avoid except for stuff like Rapaki etc.  Everyone piked for different reasons from "Not in town", "Stayin home" "Baby sittin" to no reasons what soever.  I went out by myself as it was cool but dryish.  I left at 9.15 and headed around the river, hooking onto the  towpath around the backk of Ferrymead.  I headed up St Andrews Hill stopping to remove a layer at the first flat spot before continuing on.  Right onto Marama where they are working on the footpaths so it makes it more fun riding the rough stuff then right onto Canon Hill.  Riding the footpath up here I ducked under a branch then holted suddenly as it caught my pack.  oops.  Struggled to get sorted then continued on up to the last corner and turnt left into the park.  The grass was really long and the ground was really slippery so I zigzagged up the hill, through the tennis court back onto St Andrews.  Into Major Hornbrook and through the path ways on upto Upper Major Hornbrook.  I decided to  be bad and rode up the single track as this is not part of the official track system so it  could not be officially closed.  It was slick, then dry, then slippery and then it turned into a creek before drying out for the last 50m to the Summit Road.  I then headed down the summit Rd to the pines.  Jumped the fence and then down Richmond Hill farm track.  Good test for my Mucky nutz.  Although I got speckles of mud all over my top and stuff, nothing hit my face and my front gears got wet but no mud.  Looks promising.  Down the road where I put on another layer before chugging home via Redcliffs, the Causeway back around the towpath and home by 11am.  I thought a reasonable time and it was good having music on the whole ride.  Hopefully I will get back out over Easter.  The weather ain't looking good.

Sunday 6th April

With the weather threatening and some of the keen riders already in heavy drizzle the cell phone was buzzing.  We decided to head east from my place.  I headed outside and hooked up with Phatboy, Dozer, Tinkerbell and Silverfox.  We headed off around  the Heathcote towards the towpath for a quick blat along here.  Ooops where is Silverfox.  he had his front wheel wash out of the wooden bridge half way round.  We then decided to head up Mt Pleasant road for a change.  Got rid of a layer before the climb.  Steady climb up here with Phatboy and I pulling away until we reached the t intersection.  Tinkerbell and Dozer came in next with Silverfox not feeling the joy as much.  Cloud was getting thick and a few spots of drizzle but we carried on up.  Headed into Longridge (well I think that is what its called) and then up onto  Upper Major Hornbrook.  The group scattered into 3 again.  Started the climb up the single track with the track showing lots of grease.  Still rideable though, past an interesting site and then hung a right into the top track.  Rocks were greasy as and showed what it was going to be like.  We regrouped here and chatted about what to do, the weather and options.  We  decided to head up Broadleaf and cut the ride short.  Grunted up Broadleaf, Tinkerbell teasing us that he was gonna open the gate but he didn't.  Op up we rode, over the fence.  I continued down thinking the oothers were gonna be close behind me but they weren't.  The rocks were absolutely mayhem.  Slick as and a few dabs ensued.  I waited at the top of Greenwood and then they all came trough.  All found it treacherous.  Phatboy had gunk in his eye so we cleaned that up and headed down towards the pines at the top of Richmond.  The track  was greasy and slick.  Covered in speckles of mud at the bottom.  Over the fence and then down Richmond Farm Track taking a sheep trail by the rock face before rejoining the track.  From here a fast blast down the road for drinks etc at Dot Com.  Phatboy then led us all back to Ferrymead Bridge at a fast clip.  He and Dozer headed down towards home while the rest of us headed around the towpath and back to mine easily by 12.30.

Later in the day, when it was all a LOT drier, Mellonfarmer got out with Jet the Dog and rode some of the same and some of the not same trails... without the big road bits too - using petrochemically entropied 4 wheeled conveyance to clean up those bits

Tuesday 1st April

I headed out on my own riding around Hansens Park and then started the climb up Huntsbury pushing hard as I was running late.  Got to the top of the tarmac where I met up with The Cook (he had ridden up) Phatboy, Silverfox, Tinkerbell, Twppot (first time in a while), Dozer and finally Bugs.  We then clambered over the fence and rode up the sibgle track in the paddocks.  Steep little climbs, long grass and  deep ruts certainly make this a good little grunt up.  Over another fence then the trail sort of gets lost in sheep trails.  Twopot broke a chain and while I stopped to assist the others clambered up to the top of the knoll in the wrong direction.  Wind was cold and blowing.  Phatboy came down to help and so I found the track and off I went.  The others followed in short order.  Rode around to the other side of the knoll out of the wind and then followed sheep trails back to the point where Twopot broke his chain.  Back  down towards the start with the bottom half being the best.  Phatboy and Tinkerbell did a couple of jumps in this top section and further down Phatboy, Tinkerbell, Dozer and I did the double that includes a gap jump.  Need to speed up  a bit for this.  We then decided to ride up the gravel road and do  another loop.  In the end most rode the gravel, some back up the single track and separation occured in many ways. Bugs and I ended up at the top of the knoll way ahead of the others, Tinkerbell arrived up the single track, Dozer was there and after screaming at them Silverfox and The Cook came on up.  Twopot appeared and we thought where is Phatboy? Phone goes and he has injured himself and was walking back.  Off we went in the gathering cloud and gloom.  I even put the light on.  Caught up with Phatboy who had injured his nads and was walking kind of bandy legged.  We were near the gravel road so I headed down this with Twopot and Phatboy who was at least able to stand in his pedals.  The others went down the single track.  At the cars we separated after agreeing that this track is not worth doing unless you add in maybe Witch Hill and or Marleys to the loop.  The Cook and I headed off on the bikes never seeing the others in their cars.  Ok for a ride(especially as I had the added distance of the ride to and from home) but not enough for us.