Tuesday 24th February

Bugs arrived at Upper Hornbrook road followed by Tinkerbell with Helmet. Sandals arrived on her own in the car. Jumped the fence then headed up the shared track. Sandals headed straight up the steep walking track to get ahead of the guy's. Tinkerbell and Bugs both cleared the sharp corner as we headed into the original Britten Track. Not sure how the others went. Continued on to the road then down into Cavendish Saddle. Up the single track towards the aerials at the top. The mist was rolling up now so we continued into the down hill though the tussock. Bug's was leading with Tinkerbell and Helmet not far behind. Sandals followed from there. Into Greenwood with Helmet at the front then Bug's, Tinkerbell and Sandals. Fast ride down here with Bug's keeping close to Helmet and Tinkerbell not far behind. Quick stop before the lower bit to regroup then down we went. Bug's mucked up both rocky climbs with the others having some issues. Back up the road chatting as we rode in a tight group. At the top we dropped into the Shared Track though the paddocks to the cars. Great quick short ride. Was home just after 8pm.

Meanwhile, elsewhere, MacGyver and Mellonfarmer rode some new stuff and some old stuff at the other end of the hills...

Sunday 22nd February

Bugs arrived at Sandals place at 2.26pm where Helmet and English Chris where waiting. Sandals decided not to ride as there was house work to be done. English Chris lead up Dyers Pass road at a cracking pace with Bugs n Helmet not far behind. Dropped down into the single track below the road. English Chris still kept the pace up and we headed up to Dyers Pass. Up the road to the top of Worsleys with the odd spot of rain. Dropped down the Body Bag taking it easy with all the odd ruts. Up into the pines to the top then Helmet lead down the last top steep track. English Chris followed as it was a new track for him. Bug's followed from there to see how thing's went. Wasn't to far down when Helmet jumbed a big log that had a hidden drop off on the other side. He made it fine and was in the process of telling English Chris to walk it but to late. He rolled over the top then his front wheel stopped and his back wheel over took his handle bars causing his chest to break his fall in the dirt. Bit of a small graze to his leg and dirt to his chest. Continued down into the steep section with Helmet still leading then Bugs and English Chris. Cleared most of the steep stuff with only a couple of bits walked. Up the 4wd track then down the lower track to the road. Down the road then into the Far Side tracks. Helmet hadn't ride these before so Bug's lead down One Trick Lucy. Great ride though here by all. Down the road and headed to Princesses Margret Hospital. Bugs headed back up the hill to Sandals to collect the car while the others headed for a beer. 

Saturday 21st february

Meeting point was Bugs place. Dozer, The Cook, Sandals and Helmet turned up and we loaded all the bikes into the Ranger and headed to Mt Hutt. Waz a open day and access on the big chair lift all day for $20. Arrived to a nice fine day with no wind. Joined the long queue of bikers for the chairlift. Headed up one at a time on the chairlift holding your bike all the way to the top. Once at the top we admired the view (2064m). Helmet decided to ride his way down an unknown ridge line which I understand may had involved a little walking. The rest headed down the access road which proved to be steep and sketchy due to all the scree we were riding on. Meet up with Helmet who then headed down the scree slope like a slalom skier. The rest continued down the access road for a little then headed down the scree very carefully. Up for the 2nd run. Decided to go the other way down which involved following the track that the MTB racers had been using earlier in the day. This had a nice drop off at the start which we all enjoyed. Down we headed flying over loose rocks and scree. Dozer had a small tumble followed by a 2nd shortly after. Bit of bark knocked off but other wise fine. Dozers rear tire decided to re leave itself of air at the bottom. While he repaired it we held his place in the long queue. Up we went again but this time decided to go off the tracks a little more. The cook managed to smash his back derailleur and hanger on a large rock. Time for a BBQ lunch which was provided by the Lions Club. We all headed up again except for The Cook as his bike was broken. This time Helmet and Bugs headed off track like down hill skiers while Dozer and Sandals followed the access road for a bit. Proved to be the best run by all this time. Once at the car we decided to ride down the road and find some of the lower tracks as we went. Sandals drove the Ranger while The Cook borrowed her bike and joined the others on the gravel access road. Passed a couple of cars on the way down until we found the Advanced track. Bit of a climb at the start then down we headed. This was one of the best tracks I have ridden. Rocky drop offs, Tree roots, Log jumps, mud, Steep sketchy downhills. It went on and on. Helmet going over the bars at one stage and The Cook had a issue to which involved a small crash. All arrived at the bottom of the hill just as Sandals arrived. Loaded all the bikes onto the Ranger then headed for a Beer and home. Great day riding new tracks. 

Tuesday 17th February

Picked up The Cook and headed to the meeting point on Worsley Rd.  Silverfox, Tinkerbell, Bugs and Dozer were all there.  Unloaded the bikes and got ready to ride. Then saw McGyver come down the track.  His fourth circuit.  We grunted up the road and down Fluffy Sheep, started up again and Phatboy joined in.  We went up and down doing Utopia, Farside, One Trick Lucy and Valahala before starting another round.  Phatboy had a moment on Valahala when he dropped his wheel in a hole and Dozer had a moment on Farside in the first rut due to poor visability.   Dust was really bad.  After the sixth run my eyes were sore and I was having difficulty focusing and no where to wash the contacts so I pulled out. Silverfox did not go any further either.  The boys went up again and at the end of the seventh The Cook pulled out. We then went home.  The boys all went up for another loop.

Sunday 15th February

Up and out the door in time to meet Tinkerbell.  We rode around and collected Bugs before taking the trail around the towpath and meeting up with the others at Ferrymead Bridge. In the end we had a good team including Mellonfarmer (who drove to the bridge) Phatboy, Dozer and Sandals (all rode to the  bridge).  We then took off through the roadworks out to Sumner at a steady pace.   Lost some tops before we started the grind up Richmond Hill.  Regrouped at the  start of the offroad and then continued the grind up to the trees at  the summit road.  Climbed straight up the farm track for a regroup at the start to Greenwood.  Saw a guy doodling down the track and thought need to get going but he managed to tuck into the middle of the group and did good.  Surprised me.  I had a shit run down here just not feeling the groove for some reason.  Only caught Dozer cos he got something in his eye.  Regrouped at the bottom where Phatboy was pumping air into his tyre.

We then headed up Godley track.  Not a great success over the technical section for anyone except Mellonfarmer who cleaned the rocky beginning.  From here we headed up, me still dabbing at the dumbest of spots and Tinkerbell did not have a great climb.  At the top Tinkerbell pumped up his tyre.  Sandals got a good start on us and then I headed down with Bugs on my tail.  Finally got my groove on.  Fantastic blast down here.  Over the fence and Bugs and I continued on up.  Great  blast down over PFMTBC Rock with Mellonfarmer coming in 3rd.  He had chased hard to catch up.  Down Anaconda, with another great run.   Regrouped and up Taylors Rd with most of us summiting together.  Mellonfarmer led us down through Thompsons Park and then a few steps with a couple of hairy bypasses which were loose and fun, then on a shingle sidle track out onto Whitewash Head Rd and then down into Sumner.  Stopped for drinks at Dot Com before we headed home into a light breeze.  Sandals stayed for some shopping.  I led for a while then Pahtboy flew past and got a tad far in front to slipstream him, Bugs then led for a while with no one else putting their hand up.  We split up at Ferrymead and Tinkerbell and I got home just after 1.  Good tough ride.

http://www.mapmyride.com/workout/875999079

Sunday 8th February

Sundays ride – Met at RubberJaws place…Dozer, Silverfox and Tinkerbell rode up Rapaki, over Witch Hill and Castle Hill tracks, around the road under the Gondola and to the start of Greenwood. Down Greenwood and Cpt Thomas where Dozer got a puncture. Carried on down for coffe at Dot Com and hit the road for the trip back to RubberJaws place.

Fairly uneventful ride, but was pretty warm!

P.S We also rode the John Brittan track.

And Mellonfarmer Klunked around Bottle Ache with his boy and their dog.  They stopped for a refreshing swim at the beach too.

Tuesday 3rd February

After Mellonfarmers talking about loops in the Farside Track area at the bottom of Worsley it was decided this would make a good Tuesday Ride.  I collected the Cook and drove around to the meeting spot just above the hairpin.  Only Tinkerbell there so the 3 of us set off up the grunt for the first of 8 loops for me.  Tinkerbell had already done one because he had not read the text properly.  We decided to work our way from top to bottom so we headed into Fluffy Sheep.  Tinkerbell led.  It was fast, twisty and flowing with a couple of wee jumps.  Next into Utopia, which is steeper but a lot of fun.  Next time was 1 trick Sally.  Great twisty track with lots of wee interesting bits Got a text from Bugs saying he  would meet us at the bottom.  He had arrived late and had just done Farside.  Looped back for Valhalla which was steep and off camber but climbs a lot more to get back out.  Next loop was Farside, The Cook having a couple of incidents on the top rutted section.  Then back up to do 1 Trick Sally again.  The Cook was not going to do another loop but we headed back up for a loop of Utopia.  Loop 8 for me and I headed up the old single track for a change while Tinkerbell and Bugs did the road.  One l;ast blast down Farside.  I managed to give myself an oops moment when my foot left the pedal and my rear wheel left the ground but recovered to finish.  Great ride, 8  loops in 1 hour 7 minutes and 450 odd m of climbing.

http://www.mapmyride.com/workout/863727409

Sunday 1st February

An early start to beat the heat today.  Went outside to find Mellonfarmer, Tinkerbell and Bugs all ready to roll.  Headed around the road up Rapaki Super Highway.  So many people on the track, walkers and  riders.  kept the pace steady as she goes all the way.  We all could of climbed faster but holding back due to the temperature.  Right into Vernon then into Traverse.  No real flow cos we kept catching slow riders.  Helmut and Sandals rode up and met us.  They did a 180 and followed us to vic Park.  Quick break in the shade before heading down Thompsons then at Sign of the Kiwi we headed down the Old Dyers Track.  Quick blast then up into Vic where we decided to do Cool Runnings for a change.  Down Bridges, Flow etc before climbing up Hidden Valley and then down Old Skool.  A nice wee run by everyone and an enjoyable ride overall.  We then headed around toElevate for tea and coffee but we really had a pint of Erdinger.  Homeward we headed from here.  Back by 12 easily.

http://www.mapmyride.com/workout/861476919