Monday 29th December

Well the first ride of my holiday and the last ride of the year for me.  I set myself 2 hours and headed off around the road and up the grunty road climb on the Sandy Bay- Riwaka Rd.  It was hot and humid and the climb is rather arduous.  Finally got to the top and turnt left up the forest Rd. A short grunt up and then coasted around to the small climb to the top of Upper Cork Screw.  Fast blast with a couple of jumps down here, into top of Corkscrew before my first run down the new track...Jaws.  A real fun track traversing the side of the hill.  Jumps, twists, turns and lots of fun.  This will be a cool track when it is finally finished.  Hooked into Velocity which is a fast little downhill before hanging a right into Skullduggery.  Twisty travere track which is quite narrow and hugs the side of the hill.  Nice steady run to the end...or what I thought was the end.  They have continued the track on somewhat which is great.  Nice flowing round and down until I joined up with scoot.  A track that connects things together.  Up Scoot I went until it shot me out at the top of Remedy.  This is a downhill track that twists, turns and drops through the forest.  Good at pace with a few tricky little turns etc.  This drops me onto Shady lady which is just a hooty blast before coming out onto Revelation which is a casual ride to the start of my climb.  I realised I was way behind schedule with lots of climbing to do so started up Ziggy, grunting and sweating finally reaching the start to Corkscrew.  This drops you down again until a creeek crossing and then it is up up up.  Good grunt and cleaned the really steep gnarly hairpins at the top.  Up the forest road and for the first time ever I did the run down the tarmac.  Fast pace back to camp where the wife was starting to wonder where I was.  Pleasant final ride.

http://www.mapmyride.com/workout/827494641

Tuesday 23rd December

The Cook arrived at the bottom of Worsleys then Bugs arrived followed by Dozer. No one else showed so the 3 in Blue hoped in the van and slowly drove to the end of the tarsel. On the bikes in the heat and up we went. Followed two 4WD attempting to drive up Worsleys. After we got past them we headed into the pines and up the steep farm track to the rocky look out. Regroup there then continued up the single track to the top. Headed back down the same way at the top then into fight club and various other unknown tracks until we got to the farm track at the bottom. All having a great ride. Up we went to where we started then headed back up though the pines for a 2nd loop. Watched one guy in a group hit a berm on the side of the track then off he went into the long grass. Nothing hurt, just embarrassed. Continued up to the rocky look out then headed down the old Bee line with Dozer leading followed by Bugs then The Cook. After Dozer taking the wrong track, Bugs got the lead. Flying trip down sliding though the rocky, rooty steep sections before the track at the bottom. Bugs and Dozer waiting for the The Cook at the bottom but no sign of him. After some discussion Dozer headed up the 4wd track to the top and Bugs back tracked up the single track. Found the Cook who had got a blow out in the front tyre and then crashed into the biggest pine tree on the hill. Broken glasses and a nasty cut the the eye brow, blood tripping from his nose, a bleeding finger, bleeding knee but in good spirits. Bugs helped him repair his tyre while he sorted himself out. Dozer arrived on his 3rd run down the lower section. All sorted then we headed down the rest of the single track to the 4wd track at the bottom. Back up to Worsleys then headed down the last section before the road. Bugs took the high left over grown track next to the gate with Dozer following. Bugs cleared the last big hole before the track meets the tarsel. Dozer didn't. His front wheel caught the berm and thew him over the bars landing on the tarsel. Graze to the knee and a corked thigh. After collecting himself off the road we coasted down to the van. The Cook headed home from here while Bugs and Dozer rode down the road until the new track on the left though the gate. Bugs lead down here with Dozer close behind. Slipping n sliding though here which was a lot of fun until we arrived at the tarsel again. Down the road to the cars and off home. Great ride for Bugs but a few bruisers for the others.      

The Tree

The Face

The Knee

 

Sunday 21st December

Phatboy and Tinkerbell arrived at mine and the 3 of us set off towards Gruntsbury.  Me feeling a bit like throwing up off and on the whole ride but onwards we went.  Arrived at the top to find Sandals waiting for us.  We all then headed around Vernon Track and down to the top of Rapaki.  Quick regroup and then over Witch Hill and up to the top of Castle Rock.  Had a really good blast down here before regrouping and making our way up to the Gondola.  A big posse in front but Phatboy and Tinks got amongst these guys on the climb.  Regrouped in the shade at the top finding Bugs waiting.  He had started at Broadleaf Lane.  After nearly pulling out from feeling ill I stayed with the group and we headed down to the saddle and then climbed up to Mt Pleasant summit.  I tailended as I recovered.  At the top the others followed the main trail while I took the short cut that misses the first loop.  This got me to the fence and into the trail ahead of the others.  I had a good blast through the rocks swooping down the trail with Phatboy, and Bugs not far behind.  Regrouped and headed down Greenwood.  I had an average ride  down here compared to my recent runs but still enjoyed.  We all regrouped before heading down Ct Thomas.  Everyone having a great run until the stupid gate.  I held it open until Sandals got there so the others got a bit in front.  I was blasting it down here clearing the first 2 majors and then seeing Tinks and Bugs stop on the 3rd.  This was due to Phatboy having a major off.  He had landed heavily on his hip on the down side of the track and gashed both knees.  One pretty badly.  We patched him up, with our first aid kits.  He walked a little then sat on the bike and rolled down with us following behind.  he could not pedal.  At the top of the hairpins he let us past so we could go for it so we did.  We regrouped at the final fence, helped Phatboy over then when we got to the road we pushed him when needed, he rolled the downhill and then I pushed him to Dot Com.  While on the hill we had rung Debs who had driven out to collect him.  They left for A and E while the rest of us had drinks and food before grunting it home.  Overall a good ride, would of been better if I had been feeling better and Phatboy had stayed on the bike.

http://www.mapmyride.com/workout/822114295

Saturday 20th December

Bugs and Dozer headed off for an adventure. Drove to Hamner via the long way, though the Westcoast. The weather was hot n dry in Hamner. Parked at the Dog Stream on Jollies pass road. Rode over to Jacks Pass then headed up to Tank Track. This as many tracks have changed since we rode them 3 years back. Headed down this then up into Yankee Zepher Trail. Great flowing track down here. Into Swoop trail from here then up to the start of Red rock. Great blast down here where we headed up Dog Stream trail. Chatted to a couple there then headed up to Big Foot. This had some challenging steep switch backs to head up. Down we headed enjoying it all. Up to Detox. Flew down this missing the Chicken root and both riding the drop off. Worked our way back towards the car. 19.3km with 521m of climbing.

http://www.mapmyride.com/workout/821544401


On this day, Nelsie and Mellonfarmer did the Rameka.  They rode in Canaan Rd from the main Takaka Hill road, and jumped on the Roller Coaster part of the Canaan Loop and rolled into Harwoods Hole carpark, then headed down the Rameka.  An excellent, albeit very slippery ride, having had a bunch of rain on it the night before.  The marble stuff was all really slippery, as were all the roots, and some of the mud...  Heaps of windthrow having thrashed the forest just outside the National Park bit.  The Packtrack leading to Rameka Project was awesome, tho it's incredible Nelsie never killed himself the rate of knots he hit some of the marble sections that had him pinging about like a pingy thing.  Rameka Project was sweet, tho a bit slippery in the forest.  Then the Klicks...  One Klick, yep, good.  2 Klicks?  stupid muppet Mellonfarmer hit the wooden jump and bollocksed his landing, managing to bend his seat with his ribcage, and grazing and massively bruising his inner thigh on his rear tire.  Broken rib and still sore at 2 weeks later.  Straight back on tho, and they pumped it good all the way down to Pohara.  Rib didnt even really start hurting til about 3 hours after it happened...

Sunday 14th December

Phatboy, Tinkerbell and Silverfox rode over to my place and then the four of us headed around the river via Hansens Park and then on towards Huntsbury.  Just before heading up Ramahana Rd we had Dozer waiting.  Up the hill with a breif pause on Aotea Cres before continuing.  I got a call as we heading up the hill while the others continued.  Chased them but did not catch them until the  regroup at the top of the tarmac.  Chugged on from here until the summit where we  were met by Sandals and SeeDee (Chris).  As we were going to start the trek over Vernon Phatboy hears air escaping from his front tyre.  This stops with a quick pump so I led over Vernon.  Lots of people coming from Rapaki so it was not a really fluent run but still ok.  Then we headed over Witch Hill which was more fun.  Regrouped at the end before Sandals led off towards Castle Rock.  I caught her and the others joined in at their leisure.  Castle Rock and I had a bit of a lead so I headed straight into the downhill.  Loved it and flowed pretty well.  Cleaned the lot and we regrouped at the top of the Bridal Path.  Phatboy and Tinkerbell coming in not long after me.  Silverfox had got a puncture so we waited for him and chatted with Mad Dave.  In fact we listened to Mad Dave for way to long.  We then headed back the way we came.  Sandals led off but dabbed in the first rocks so we all past her.  Good run up here with only 2 dabs for me.  One on each of the hairpins.  Cleaned the rest including the stinky bit near the top.  Regrouped and headed down towards Witch Hill.  As we started theis Phatboy got another puncture so had to stop and reinflate.  We decided to regroup at Rapaki as more to look at.  It was crowded at the top.  Up and over Vernon with a quick regroup at the start of the Traverse.  Due to time constraints we decided to come down Old Skool.  I led off around Traverse and then down towards Old Skool.  Did not get the line and went off piste, what a wild ride.  Phatboy flatted yet again and after waiting for a seal discovered more than one hole leaking air and fluid.  Time to put in a tube.  Down the hill staying on the zigs and zags.  Good run down here and thewn at the first fence we let Phatboy take the lead.  Dozer, Tinkerbell, me then Silverfox followed in a tight group for a fantastic run down.  Regrouped and then slowly the group split with first Dozer pulling out then at the end of Bowenvale another 4 left leaving just Phatboy and me.  Then Phatboy split and I did the last run home by myself.  Great mornings ride.

http://www.mapmyride.com/workout/817460007

Tuesday 9th December

We had two teams tonight, the blue team which consisted of Bug's, The Cook and Dozer. The Mufti team consisted of Sandals and The Silver Fox. We meet on the flat at the bottom of Worsley's where we piled into 2 cars and drove to the end of the tarsal. We headed into the singles track with The Cook leading followed by the rest. We decided to head up the 4wd track though the pines, Dozer took the lead followed by Bug's, The Fox, The Cook then Sandals. At the rocky look out we kept heading up the single track as far as we could. We then dropped down to the Worsleys track and headed up the Body Bag. We all had some issues towards the top, some more than others but go there in the end. Up to the top of The Nun. Bug's lead followed by Dozer, The Fox, The Cook and Sandals. We all had a ripper run except for The Fox who didn't show at the half way point. Turns out he had a flat tire. Dozer and Bugs decided to continue down the lower half of the Nun while we waited. Back up the road they came and still no Fox. Quick call to him and it turns out he got a 2nd flat tyre and run out of tubes. He decided to walk back up while the rest rode the road back up to the top of Worley's. Bugs headed up to the Nun with a spare tube. Back as a group at the top of the Body Bag. Dozer lead down with the rest following in his dust. He past a few female walkers and then ran into some ruts and ended up where he shouldn't had been. Back into the forest and it was decided to go the old way down. Everyone was in close order until the rocky lookout. The Fox put some air in the bottom of his tyre while Dozer, The Cook and Sandals headed down. Bug's and The Fox then gave chase to catch up. Catching the others half way down where they had waited. Down we continued with Bug's now leading followed by Dozer, The Cook, The Fox and Sandals. Big smiles from all at the bottom as we all had one of our best runs down here. Back up the 4wd then turned right and headed down the last of the pines to the carpark. No stopping here as we rode down the road to the new track on the left before the steep road section. Dozer lead into the single track with Bugs hot on his heals and the rest not far behind. More big smiles at the end of here with Sandals wondering how her side knobbles had held her on the side of the hill. Great little track here. Down the road to the cars at the bottom. Quick ferry of drivers back up the hill then home we went. Home around 9pm. 14km with 405m of climbing. Drinks next Tuesday for Christmas.

Meanwhile, the rest of the usual were at a TFC meeting, and MacGyver and his mate The Sharratt were partaking of the Packhorse track, a there and back with MacGyver nearly puking trying to keep up with Sharratt...

An out of order ride on Saturday 6th December

Rubberjaws (me) had arranged to take out a couple of newbie riders today.  He arranged for the Cook to come out also.  The Cook arrived followed by the newbies.  Kevin has done Rapaki once and the Crocidile a couple of times but not recently  while Roy has never been up a hill.  We set off a t a very relaxed pace with The Cook getting ahead.  Roy thought we were half way up when we left the tarmac but we soon put him straight.  Kevin was doing ok.  I stuck with them while the Cook headed on ahead to wait at  the flat stretch.  It was funny watching Roy struggle his way up.  Every rider who passed him gave encouragement which was really cool to see.  Eventually hooked up with the Cook.  As we entered the last stretch up I gave it a boost.  Easy to do when the rest  of the ride up was  a doddle.  Caught the Cook who was ahead and blasted to the summit.  Slowing 100 meters from the top to allow the Cook to catch up.  We then waited for the others to show up.  Kevin first and then finally Roy.  Looking pale but pleased to be at the top.  He said "Now for the down" and looked at bit sad when we sad at the end of the little climb.  Kevin and Roy took the road to the Traverse Track start.  I led the Cook over Vernon giving it a real thumping, stretched out a lead and got around in very quick time.  The regroup took some time as we waited for the newbies.  Into the Traverse going well.  Kevin had led off started well but I passed him in the rocky section as did The Cook.  Around and then waited at the top just before the good run down to the pond.  3 of us waited a while and saw a guy go over the bars a long way back.  Hoped it was not Roy because he did not move for a while.  I ended up going back to see if it was Roy but found him 200m back fixing his chain problem.  He had a small tumble and bent his derailer.  Fixed that and continued on.  Good blast around to Vic Park.  Both the newbies enjoying themselves.  We then headed down the Rock Garden, They walked the rocks but Kevin then rode the rest, while Roy did Ok.  Down Shazzas into Brents.  We watched some guys go over at the bottom and then Roy lept over the bars at the same spot as he lost control.
Down Bridges, and Flow.  They both were happy at the bottom.  We then headed home in a relaxed style.  Slowest ride I have ever done in this track time wise but I dug it in whenever possible.

Sunday 7th December

Mellonfarmer met Tinks and Dozer at the Ferrymead bridge just after 9am, no other takers, while sandals toiled her way ahead somewhere up the hill.  Up St Andrew's, Marama into Cannon Hill Cres then through the park and on up Major Hornbrook to the top where the boys found the girl resting.  About 10 it was by then, and 10.05 when they cruised on up through Britten, Sandals heading into Greenwood the old way, while the boys continued on around Britten, then as per Tuesday, back along the Summit Rd and up Broadleaf.  Good times from the top, being reasonably fresh in memory for Tinks and MF from Tuesday, both certainly rode it smoother, not screwing up any of the tussocky corners.  As they rolled down through the ruins it was half an hour then since they'd started out from the bottom of Britten. Awesome run down Greenwood chasing the idea of Sandals ahead, with Tinks never too far off MF's tail.  MF lost his chain in the upper rocky bits, but a quick reinstall and Tinks holding back left him with a continued lead.  Excellent blast down the rest of it into Gloomy Gulch and below.  Then just above Dangerous Dave's sections there were a couple of guys waiting, and they jumped in after Tinks and MF rolled through, ahead of Dozer.  Good fang all the rest of the way down, with a bit of a dab through wrong gearing the first rocky up followed by a nice roll down the rest, to find Sandals reclining once again.  Next, it was into Captain Thomas, with Dozer doing what he does best, dozering a runner chick who was paying more attention to her phone than the trail at hand, and this after Tinks and the Mellonfamer had been past her.  Somebody's cleaned up some sections lower down, including around the first of the rock challenges, but the PFMTBC-ers met a big clusterfuck of other riders here and so had to walk down it anyway.  Thankfully, the two rocky challenges further down are still intact, and the first two cleaned them both no prob, but Dozer walked down the second one (i think).  Final blast not bad, except for the silly bits near the very bottom.  and it was 11am as the 3 rolled down through the park and roads to Dot Com where they assembled, getting a coffee ready for Sandals, who wasn't at all far behind.  MF took off a little earlier than the rest and met some serious wind as he rounded into Moncks Bay as well as on the causeway it was coming at him from the left front quarter, making for a wearisome crossing.  He was home well before 12.

Choice, hot, day.

Toosday 2nd December

The Stove was first on the scene, followed by Mellonpharmer (who'd lost his helmet) and MacGyver, then Buggs and then Tinks, at the top of Upper Major Hornbrook.  Rubberjaws, who'd organised it was unable to attend.  Mellonpharmer wore MacGyver's spare townie lid and The Emperor's New Gloves, made from only the finest of rarified airs. Off up Britten they trundled, two out front widening the gap on the other three. Then it was around to the end of the original traverse trail and then back along the road and straight up Broadleaf all the way.  Into the descent, down the rocks to the stile and over.  In the second corner below this MF dropped his chain, allowing the others all to pass and then he was in for the chase. Overtook The Stove just after the rocky sections, then chased through the swoopy tussocks and wound in Buggs by the end, both of them nearly running over a small black dog not being restrained by its owners.  MacGyver led into the Greenwood mainframe with MoFo right on his tail. Good run down, with the rocks rocky and the dirt grippy. MF's chain stayed on all the way til the wee valley before the final blast, and so once again he was behind Warren who kindly waited for him on the rocky up, and beat him to the bottom much to his satisfaction. At the bottom some discussion was had and the team split into two groups for a race... with MacGyver and The Farmer of Mellons accepting the challenge of seeing whether Greenwood was faster than the road? However, McG and MF stopped pretty much immediately after setting off, thereby voiding the competition, to check out the view over towards the road below the second-to-last corner on the way down and then chatted to some stranger who stopped to chat.  The climb was honest, with only a couple of real pinches, which both nearly cleaned.  They stopped a couple of times to let riders through, including one enormous group that just kept appearing over the brow of the hill, 10, 15??!  Some of the tail enders were really struggling on the rocks, including the last one who was carrying his bike. Finally out the top, up the road and into a rapid descent of Britten back to the car, the others having won the race up the hill.

Sunday 30th November

Wow the months have flown by.  Today I set off from mine all by myself. I headed around down the motorway, then onto Radley and then on the back streets to the Heathcote Cut and met up with Bugs at the end of Allport.  We headed around the tow-path to Ferrymead and then out to Sumner via the courseway taking note of all the safety stuff put out for the run that was going to happen shortly after we went through.  Got a call from Dozer who had parked at Ferrymead Bridge after we went through.  He rode from there.  We arrived at Dot Com and we were followed by Tinkerbell and Silverfox (in the van) Dozer (on the bike) and Sandals and Helmut (in the car).  Organised ourselves and headed down the road to Sumnervale where we started our climb up Ct Thomas.  Nice steady pace up here cleaning all the hairpins on the way.  No rush but very enjoyable pace.  Regrouped at the top of the zigzags then carried on up,  of course we had to lift over the rock sections but cleaned everything else.  At the top the road was being sealed and we headed over to do Godley Track.  Another posse was about to start so we all got mixed up until our usual regroup spot after the 2nd technical.  Some cleaned these but most did not.  Off we went catching and passing the slowest of the posse in front.  Fast blast down the first long run, quick regroup then off we went.  Sandals mentioned she would go slow and head straight down Anaconda when she got there.  (it turns out she was a tad hungunder) We blasted up and over, down over PFMTBC rock and then we took off on the upper side of the road onto the sheep track around to Godley.  Helmuts first time around here.  Blasted down to the road and then I led off around towards the Snake.  Good blast and a few holes to keep you on your toes. I was feeling great and felt like I had a great flow on. Just before we headed down the snake a couple who had ridden the road set off just ahead of us.  I  led off after them determined to pass them quickly.  At  the first little bridge I pulled a swift right into the little bypass and got in front of the girl.  The guy was going faster but he was not going to let anyone pass so I stayed hard on his tail.  Rolling hard we got to the hairpin by the cattlestop where half of china was walking down the hill.  He slowed and I shot down a little track screaming at the walkers to move.  They lept out of the way and I shot through, not slowing down until the Taylors carpark.  I was enjoying myself going as hard as I could.  I had no idea about the others but knew someone was chasing me.  What a buzzy ride down.  We regrouped and laughed about the ride down all feeling good (except the guy that I passed) and started the grind up and over the hill.  half way up the woman flew past on her bike then the guy.  Made them feel good passing us on the up but who cares about that.  Most people pass me going up :).  Down the road at a fast pace and then to Dot Com for tea and food.  (lunch for me). Then Bugs, Dozer and I set off for home.  The van passed us, we dropped Dozer at Ferrymead and then Bugs at the Bridge with me doing the last stretch on my own.  Home by 12.40.  Fantastic ride for the last day of spring.  See the maymyride below for my ride.

http://www.mapmyride.com/workout/806989687

Meanwhile, Mellonpharmacist, who couldn't join the usuals because it was his mum's birthday, enjoyed a short ride with his puppy, up and down a couple times in the Worsley Forest