Tuesday 29th July

Bugs and The Cook arrived at the end of the tarsel up Huntsbury to find Phatboy and The Fox waiting. Dozer arrived shortly afterwards. After a short discussion about whats been happening we started the climb up to the Traverse. Was a quick ride up as it seemed like the middle up hill section was missing !!!! Short regroup at the start of the Traverse then we set off with Phatboy leading followed by Bugs, Dozer, The Fox and The Cook. Phatboy got a bit of a lead on with the others not to far behind. Track was in pretty good condition considering the weather of recent. Regroup at the top of Vic park then down though the two short tracks in the bush to Dyers Pass. Another short regroup then up the road to the top of the Nun. Phatboy lead down with Bugs not far behind followed by Dozer, The Fox and The Cook. Great run down here for most with The Fox having issues seeing in the dark (Doesn't sound like a fox). Regroup at the bottom then up the road to the top of Vic park. Across the Traverse then a regroup before the down. Down though the paddocks which got wetter as the lower down we went. Phatboy tried a couple of jumps but with the wet track no one had a go. Back to the cars around 8.03. Great to get out as it's been a while for a few of us. 

Sunday 19th July

Its been a damp soggy month with no track drying.  If anything it is getting worse.  This morning there were only 3 of us for the ride, Dozer, The Cook and myself. I wanted to have a short ride as plenty of extra stuff to do today. Tracks closed everywhere so we headed up Gruntsbury trying not to get to much separation with only 3 riders.  It was cool all the way and only the cook delayered on the climb.  We regrouped at the top of the tarmac and again at the summit.  By the summit we were well and truly in thick dripping cloud.  No glasses required up here as they only made vision worse.  We headed around the road towards Rapaki with visibility getting worse all the time, down to about 5 metres at one stage.  Ice cream headaches on the descent with us all wishing we had balaclavas on.  We added a fourth layer to our tops at the gate before continuing on around to the top of Bridal Path.  Another ice cream headache from the cold here too.  We then headed down the Bridal Path.  It was real greasy in the top rocky section, greasier in the next muddy section with one walker telling us we were daring to ride it in the current conditions.  Let it rip once we got into the smoother gravel section for a bit of fun.  From here we headed straight home for a hot drink at mine.  Good to get out but where o where are the single track days gonna appear again.

Tuesday 15th July

I am having a week off so I thought I would do a ride by myself.  Lots of tracks still at avoid so I headed out and then did the grind of Rapaki.  Steady pace all the way.  In the top section there was a guy really striding it out as he walked.  I had caught up to all other walkers but this guy was just pounding it out and I could not close on him with out standing.  Very impressed. At the top he turned around and was gasping but pleased.  We actually stopped to chat.  Nice guy, normally rides but he was out with the wife and daughter whom I passed further down.  He said he heard me gaining and decided to challenge himself, nearly killed him he said.  I then set off towards Vic Park via Vernon and the Traverse.  Had a really good run around here.  At Vic I just turned around and headed back giving it a good pump.  Blasted back over Vernon and straight down Rapaki.  I let go on the way down the top section and would have to say got the best turn of speed down here in recent memory.  Good blast down the rest getting a bit loose in one lot of shingle.  Overall a good blast.

Sunday 13th July

Well the day dawned nice and fine but the majority of tracks were closed due to sogginess so the 3 of us who were riding, Tinkerbell, Silverfox and I decided to have a town cruise.  Thought it would be nice for a change so we set off down Opawa, onto Shakespear, Waltham and then through CPIT.  Rode down High St which was kinda odd and absolutely lost our bearings.  Then we went through the Square and then into Cashel Mall and from there into Victoria Square before heading down Victoria St.  We went around North Hagley then around South  Hagley before heading around the river and back to Restart for Coffee.  From here we cruised down Colombo before separating at Tennyson St.  I returned home solo while the other headed off together.

Sunday 6th July

A small posse today.  Silverfox met me at mine and we set off towards Ferrymead, meandering around tghe back of the buildings along the river etc until the bridge where we met Mellonfarmer.  We then set off up St Andrews Hill hanging a right up Te Awakura Tce for a change.  Rode around a couple of bends before taking an alleyway upto Canon Hill Cres (lower as section) up here before hanging left into Michael St, onto the Upper part of Canon Hill and then left into Freeman which took us out onto MajorHornbrook where we continued on up taking the normal route to the start of John Brittan at Upper Major Hornbrook.  Just a steady pace it was.  The singletrack so us separate into 3 solo riders attacking it at our own pace.  Regrouped before dropping down the road to the Greenwood entrance.  Had a good run through here enjoying the rockiness of the rebuilt sections instead of mucky holes.  Regrouped and stopped for a snack at the ruins.

From here Mellonfarmer led off followed by me then Silverfox.  Had a good run down here and although we all dabbed at the muck before Gloomy Gulch it was so much better than last week.  Had a little separation from each other at this point and I went into the gulch climbed out and went round the last bend before climbing to the rocky downhill when things went wrong.  Front wheel dropped into the drainage trench on the side which through me off the bike and down the hill aways.  Clambered back up with bruised ego, a small bit of claret and a bruised calf.  Not to worry.  Silverfox arrived and we went round the bend to see Mellonfarmer wondering where I had got to.  Carried on from here.  Down down down and then over the the Godley head track.  My timing was out (I will blame that on the spill) and I dabbed a fair bit where I don't normally.  We all continued on and as it levels before the downhill we were all together.  Coming off the 2nd boardwalk it was a bog and the clay track was a bit greasy but once it hit the shingle got a good flow.  Regrouped at the Col and then climbed over and headed down towards PFMTBC rock.  A bog just before was nasty and it was greasy and wet after it also.  Down the Annaconda at a good pace from here.  Track in Ok condition. Passed some guy mucking around carrying his bike over the rocks on the lower section of the Snake before grinding up and over Taylors.  Stopped for a bite and drink at Dot Com and hooked up with Sandals and Helmut who had slept in.  Yeah Right.  They had road cycled out for some exercise.  We all ended up riding back as one posse.  Home by 1.

Tuesday 1st July

A cool night but good for a ride.  Headed around to the top of the Hunstbury tarmac, collecting The Cook along the way.  Hooked up with Nelly, Mellonfarmer, Tinkerbell, Bugs and Dozer.  We then headed up the track.  Always slightly tougher starting a climb from cold.  I hung back to ride with The Cook.  he's still getting over the bot and my wrists sore from work related duties.  The others got ahead of us quite quickly but we all regrouped at the top.  Then it was off around the Traverse Track.  I stayed hard on Dozers rear wheel.  Must be off putting having all the extra light causing shadows but what the heck it was fun.  Regrouped at the top of Vic and when the Cook arrived I suggested that we just do the bottom half of The Nun.  We headed down Thompsons at a good clip then on the 2nd bit I passed Tinkerbell with a flat.  Regrouped at Sign of the Kiwi.  The Cook and I then headed off to do our thing.


Bugs, Dozer gave up waiting first, and headed on up, then Nelly and Mellonfarmer decided to give up waiting too and headed on up, not seeing any of the others again for a while.  Bugs and Dozer had their run down, and then Mellonfarmer led Nelly into the Nun, and they fanged it down. Mellonfarmer's new ride was sweet and he nearly got kicked off a a hump lower down.

Meanwhile The Cook and I headed down the Lower Nun.  Had a good run down here at full blat.  We then headed up the hill and then around the Traverse again.  Headed down to Huntsbury via the rocky track and then down the the main track at top speed.  Took the right hand track from the pylons flicking a big rock up somehow causing big clunk and then loaded up before heading home.

Meanwhile behind us the rest all regrouped again at the Kiwi.   Up the road and into and round the Traverse.   Off left down Hunstbury, rocks and tussocks trying to take advantage, then rocket ride down gravel into the landing strip and on down to the singletrack.  Dozer and Bugs took the main track all the way down, til Tinkerbell got them at the pylons and got them on track again.  Popped most of the jumpies, Nelly did them all, and was a good run.  We got back to the vehicles at 8pm.