Thursday 29th January Duet

Bugs rode over to Rapaki where he meet Dozer who was dropped of by Mrs Dozer due to him leaving his shoes at his old house. Waited for 5 minutes at the bottom for a guy who didn't show. Up we rode at a nice pace looking at all the interesting things on the way up. As we got to the last steep climb it got hotter and hotter. Bug's was feeling the heat but peddled on. At the top we turned left and headed up witch hill. Headed up the road into the wind at a nice speed then dropped into the single track which comes out at the top of the Bridle Path. Bugs lead with Dozer not far behind. Both cleared the lot. Headed around the road under the gondola feeling very unsafe as we rode under the rocky outcrops. Dropped into the single track at the top at headed over to the top of Mt Pleasant. Still enough light so headed over to Greenwood which was fun n fast. Bugs lead and kept the lead all the way down. Both still having some issues on the rocky bits at the bottom but clearing the rest. Straight in Captain Thomas with Bugs still leading. Dozer grabbed the lead when bugs stalled on some rocks. Down we headed passing a nice red top on someone. Flew down the lower zig zags and ended at the gate in no time at all. Over we went then onto the road and down though Sumner. Tail wind home across the causeway. Dropped in behind the shops and followed the river home to Bug's place. Dozer rode from there to his new old home. 32km with 812m climbing. 

Sunday 25th january

Phatboy and Silverfox met at mine and the 3 of us set off around Aynsley Tce and then up Rapaki.  Good pace with Phatboy leading.  I hung onto him.  We caught up with Tinkerbell and Wendy (work it out) and rode with them until the flat section.  Wendys first time up here so she is no longer a Rapaki Virgin.  We continued and Phatboy rode off into the distance while Silverfox and I rode the top section.  Regrouped and then congratulations to Wendy for sumitting.  We left them to it and headed up and over Vernon before blasting around the Traverse stopping just below the pines.  Chatted with the group of riders we have been bumping into on a regular basis.  We then headed down down down by usual routes of Shazzas, Brents, Bridges Flow before climbing the hidden track back up to the start of Old Skool.  Great blast down here.  Then headed back home.  Gate to gate in 1.31 hours.  Time to head out for BBQ lunch.

http://www.mapmyride.com/workout/853966623

Tuesday 20th January wee blast in the Danger Zone

Collected the Cook and drove over to the last bit of flat road before heading up Worsley. Met up with Mellonfarmer, Silverfox, Bugs, Tinkerbell, Dozer and eventually Phatboy.   Loaded everyone into 2 cars and drove to the top.  Unloaded and then started the climb up Worsleys track.  At the start of the Straight Up The Guts Track there was danger keep out signs due to logging.  After very little discussion we ignored it, went under the tape and grunted up the guts.  Shit this is a steep wee grunt.  All cleaned it pretty much.  I only saw 1 stop but they rode from there in the end.  I had burning lungs and felt like hayfever at the rocky outcrop where we rested.  Felt like shit the rest of the climb but made it to the top of Debbie Does.  We followed Melonfarmer down here peeling off into some sort of side track.  Branches hanging low and a wee push.  From here we were onto Tommys.  Fast enjoyable run down here before crossing over to do Fight Club before logging cuts it up.  Fun and dusty down here.  Up the access track dodging machinery etc.  Then down the lower track.  Onto the road and the boys led into the tracks on The Far side.  New for Phatboy and me.  LOVED IT.  Back to the cars.  We all headed home form here.  Short ride , grunty climb fun downhill.

http://www.mapmyride.com/workout/848955065

Bloody Hot Sunday 18th January

Got an early start today due to the heat.  Went outside and I was joined by. Tinkerbell, Silverfox, Dozer and Phatboy.  We headed around casually to the Heathcote Cut and colled Bugs at the footbridge.  I led from here at a staedy pace, (not our normal pace) and then started up St Andrews.  Tinks mentioned to Bugs that his bike was riding oddly and a close inspection saw a broke link.  He returned home with plans to meet us further up the hill. The rest of us continued our plod up the hill via, Marama, Canon Hill, through the park with a rest in the shade then up Majorhornbrook and into the pathways where Bugs rejoined the group.  Onto Upper Majorhornbrook and then into Lower John Brittain with Tinkerbell leading.  Steady plod searching for a breeze.  Regrouped in the shade before the old entrance to Greenwood.  Tinks put on his camera and Phatboy led followed by me then Tinks etc.  A non stop ride down to the bottom.  Good run at a nice pace, wind in the face but not really cooling you all that much.  At the bottom we threw ourselves down in the shade for a rest.  Into Ct Thomas.  Good flow down here stopping at Phatboys rock to check out the line before continuing on.  Into  the zigzags with some sneakiness appearing in the riding order.  Stopping at Dot Com for a break before a cruise there and back along the esplanade to see how busy it was at the beach.  Home from here at a steady pace.  Pleased to get home and out of the heat.

http://www.mapmyride.com/workout/846275231

Tuesday 13th January

Loops of the nun tonight. Bug's picked up The Cook and headed up the hill with Dozer and Tinkerbell following in there Vans. Stopped at the 2nd carpark from top of Dyers rd counting the 1st. Rode up the Tarseal to the 3rd carpark to find Sandals and Helmut waiting. He continued up the rest of the way chatting about this and that. Heaps of riders out tonight. Bug's lead the 1st run with Tinkerbell following as he had splashed out on a fancy camera which he had strapped to his chest. Dozer followed by Helmut, The Cook and Sandals. Track was fast, dusty and rocky. Everyone got down in one piece except for Dozer who clipped a rock and managed to take a little bark of his shin and forearm. 2nd Run Tinkerbell moved his camera to his handle bars to get a better shot of Bug's ass. Same order as before but this time no Helmut at the bottom. He had got a flat tire and some brake issues which was the end of his night. Sandals waited for him while the rest headed up for a 3rd loop. Dozer lead with Bugs chasing and Tinkerbell right behind. Bit of jossling for the lead as we were all having a ripper run. Arrived at the exit point with big smiles by all but sore legs from a fast run. The Cook arrived shortly afterwards. Sandals had snuck up for her 3rd loop which was her last. The rest headed up for a 4th loop which was a full run to the bottom. Was starting to drizzle now which started to make the dusty rocks now slippy and muddy. Bugs lead with Tinkerbell chasing with his camera now moved onto his lower fork. Dozer was next with The Cook behind him. Another fast run with the drizzle not slowing us down any. Quick stop at the half way point to make sure everyone was ok at that point. Continued on down the lower section which was another fast run. All arrived in one piece then we rode back up to the cars. Great ride by all.  


Meanwhile, at the other end of the hills, Mellonfarmer and MacGyver did a loop from Slumner - up the Captain, out Godley, a lap from Breeze Col above the road on the skinny sheep track and around the back (great wee trail that one), then down Anaconda and over Scarborough thru Nicholson Park back to Scumner.  No drizzle encountered out that end, and no injuries, just an aching ribula on the 'pharmer.

Sunday 11th January

Bug's rode over to the bottom of Huntsbury which was the meeting point for this hot 1st group ride of the year. Earlier start of 8.30 to beat the heat. The fox arrived followed by Dozer then a call from Phatboy who had not read his text properly and was waiting at Bug's place by himself. The three waited a bit then slowly started the climb up Huntsbury while Phatboy played catch up. We all grouped up between the 2nd and 3rd corner and so the four of us headed up to the top chatting, puffing and sweating as we went. After a rest before the Traverse Phatboy lead off followed by Dozer, Bugs and then The Fox. Meet a group of riders on the top of the lava flow which caused us all to stop. Off we continued at fall speed heading to Vic park. Bug's stopped at the normal half way point past the ponds to see where The Fox was. No sign of him all the way back to The Lava flow. Waiting a couple of minutes then Bug's could see him on his way. The Fox had had a fall which resulted in a grazed elbow, sore rib, broken seat dropper switch and a tire print that went over his ass (apparently he went over the bars then his bike run him over). We headed on catching the others who were resting in the shade at the top or Vic park. Headed down one of the tracks we haven't headed down for a few years with us all using different tracks to end up at the same spot, skidder side. Phatboy lead down the rest with Bug's close behind followed by Dozer and The Fox. Up into the Hidden Valley with Bug's and The Fox stuffing up the rocky creek crossing. The others cleared it with Phatboy clearing the lot to the top. Down we all headed though the Bowernvale Track. The track was fast n dusty. All arriving at the road in one piece. Off to Dozers for a coffee, then home by 11.30. 

Friday 2nd January thru to the 8th.

I started the year with a spin on what was to be a favourite circuit.  Pretty much the same as my last ride of 2014 but as I climbed back to the top I took an alternative route down.  The ride flowed so much better and it was not so humid.  Did all the same tracks but instead of heading down the tarmac I headed down a fire road which starts off  pretty level before starting to drop.  As it drops it also becomes more overgrown with gorse whipping at arms and legs.  Nice wide single track really.  Super fun riding until it spits you out at the top off kateriteri- Sandy bay Rd.  This drops you down for a 4km road ride back to camp.  800m of climbing and just over 27km in 2 hours and 8 minutes.

http://www.mapmyride.com/workout/830554473

I repeated the same course on the 6th at slightly better speed.  On the 4th and the 7th I drove around to Kaiteriteri with Janine and the girls.  The girls went for a walk to look at booty while Janine and I headed into the MTB park for a ride.  This was a doddle for me but a first time event for Janine.  Never ridden up any MTB tracks before so we took it easy.

Headed up Easy Rider and followed this for a while before realising it was heading the wrong way.  Backtracked and headed along Cruise Control.  Janine did not like the drops off the edge but rode the whole thing at a steady pace.  We then headed down Glade Runner.  Slightly older track with a few more twists, turns and tree routes but still easy for me.  The narrow drop had janine squealing then laughing before joining revelation to the the ends.  We then headed back to the car via the road.

The 7th saw us ride up Easy Rider onto Cruise Control.  Instead of going down Glade Runner we went back Via Swamp Monster which is more technical than what Janine had ridden before.  She did really well cleaning all the downs and the grunty little ups.  This track flows into Sidewinder which climbs out towards the start of Cruise Control.  Grunty hairpins abound and all up hill.  Janine clened all but 2 hairpins which blew me away completely.  Kinda proud of her.  Down easy ride and back to the cars.

My last ride of my trip was something different.  We had been to motueka for some food supplies but I stopped at Riwaka.  Hooked into the cycle trail here while Janine drove back to camp.  I followed the trail as it headed towards Kaiteriteri.  A few climbs involved before it cuts into the back end of the MTB park. It climbs up the other end of Easy Ride so I flew up and around here before dropping into Sidewinder, Swampthing, GladeRunner, Revelation and then climbed up Ziggy, into Corkscrew and then took the fire roads back to camp.  21kms.

http://www.mapmyride.com/workout/836614647

This was my last ride of camp.  Unfortunately while I rode some good trails while away I also drunk heaps so instead of coming back rested, fit and trim I came back rested fit and fatter.  maybe next year.