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