Sunday 28th June

A brisk morning to start.  Went outside and was soon joined by Silverfox and Tinekerbell.  Just before we headed off Bugs arrived then Sandals drove up to say she would meet us at the Bridge.  We took the usual route around the river to Ferrymead Bridge.  The dirt section certainly had a greasiness to it.  Got to the bridge and found, Mellonfarmer, Dozer and Helmut (who was on a thinwheeled old school racing bike). Sandals had already started. We got rid of some layers and headed up St Andrews. Bugs and the Mellonfarmer headed off into the distance.  The rest of us at a steady pace headed up onto Marama and the back onto St Andrews but the other 2 went up Canon Hill.  I was certainly tail end charlie.  Just kept grinding and found the front 3 up at Longridge.  Every coasted upto the start of Lower John Brittan.  Helmut decided not to attempt the climb but headed around to greenwood on the tarmac.  Sandals and I kept on going while the others chatted.  Bugs and Mellonfarmer eventually caught us.  At the top Mellonfarmer, Bugs, Dozer, Tinkerbell took the top track then up broadleaf and down the usual run.  It seems it was a bit slick in spots.  The rest of us headed into the old entrance.  Helmut was in front to the first rocks where I passed him.  It was pretty greasy and slick but I was doing well and gapped the others by a big bit to the ruins which surprised me somewhat.  The others came in and rather than wait in the cool breeze we continued.  Sandals had kept on while I was robing up.  Started well but hesitated at a rocky point which stuffed my flow.  It was pretty sketchy at times.  Dry then wet then dry then greasy.  Bugs hurtled out of nowhere at the last hairpin before the bottom.  No one else near him.  We regrouped with the others all appearing slowly.  Mellonfarmer was heading to lunch at Taylors so he did Godley while the rest of us slid down the top half of Ct Thomas until it got dry then it was so much more fun.  Headed to Dot Com before the ride home at a nice steady flow.  Good to get out but the tracks were shite.

Saturday 20th June

A late start and a small crew  for todays ride.  it was planting day up on the Port Hills at Eastside Bush.  The Cook (on his fat steed) and Abba (on his new stead) showed up at mine for the ride.  All the tracks were closed or avoid so not very invigorating prospects for fun.  We headed up Rapaki.  I grunted all the way feeling rather unfit.  It was quite wet in the top section.  Along the road we headed most riders following the tarmac which was good to see.  You could see a lot of water on the traverse track below us.  At the top of Vic park we took the farm trail down to the skidder site for a break.  Abba had to get home so he trundled off.  The Cook and I rode off to the main carpark for a toilet stop and added more clothes before riding back to the meeting point below ranger hq. Then off we all headed tgo  the site below Pono's track.  370 plants later we headed back to HQ for the bbq.  Good grunt back up the hill.  After food we head down the main 4wd track (K2) all the way to the Valley and out.  Just before getting home the rain like mist arrived so timing was perfect.

Sunday 14th June

Ooops.  I woke to my alarm at 7.30am then promptly fell asleep.  I awoke at 9.05 thing oopps.  Let the team know I would not be joining them at 9.10 at Ferrymead Bridge.  They headed off up St Andrews.  I am sure someone will fill in the details later - indeed, here 'tis...

Mellonfarmer, Dozer, Helment and Sandals, Phatboy, and Buggs, met at Ferrymead bridge.  Hellmutt and MF on the fatties. - Up St Andrews, Marama, Cannon, up through the park and on up Major Hornbroke.  Seemed to take a while, with lots of stops and chatting.  Up through Britten and down round the road into the Greenwood 'old' entrance.  MF relinquished a little air from his rubber balloons when they stopped above the ruins for a bite to eat. Phatboy led the way off down, with Buggs and then MF for a while with Dozer, Helment and Sandals bringing up the rear.  MF eased up just past Gloomy Gulch and had a wee rest, let yet more air out of his rubbers.  Helment, and Dozer passed here then Helment flatted on the flatter bit before swoopy switchbacks Dangerous Dave used to work on.  MF stopped with him for a bit, and Sandals went past, and the others were all waiting down the bottom.  MF let a little more air out of his front tire here too. He thought Helmutt was pretty much done so took off and got all the way down whilst Helmunt was still up there...  The whole group waited down the bottom and eventually saw him get moving.  At this stage it was like 11.30 so they decided not to do Godley and the Conda so took the Captain instead.  Half way down Phatboy flatted so Sandals sidled on by and after a bit MF took off too.  Down in the switchbacks he took the new line off the 2nd lefthander (below the pines) switchback - it's got a couple nice corners in it around a big cabbage tree.  He caught Sandals at the bottom and re-established some of the air pressure that he'd let out earlier, and they watched for the others for quite some time.  Eventually they came into view.  Down the road to Dot Coma.  Helmutt and Sandals stayed on in Slumber for a shop, and the rest of the crew had a good blast round the causeway all peeling off at the bridge, seeing Tink's and 'Lovely''s van parked up here.

Meanwhile, a little later, Rubberjaws did this:  After getting up and doing my stuff I put the bike in the van and headed off p Mt Pleasant Rd.  Stopped and chatted to Tinkerbell and the Lovely Jenna who were riding up the road.  I continued on up and parked at Upper Major Hornbrook.  I did not have much time but still wanted to test the new bars I got.  On the bike and headed up the single track catching some people in front.  Felt odd having wide bars.  Gone from 680mm to 760mm. Did the hairpin turn and straight around the top of John Brittan.  Over the gate and grunted up Broadleaf Lane onto the shingle before turning onto the single towards cavendish Saddle.  Good run down here but still getting used to the different feel.  Passed the people I caught on Lower John Brittan who had only managed to get to the saddle.  Up the road and into John Brittan again  Along here and just before the turn to head down I saw Tinks and his Lovely again.  Chatted a bit more then headed down.  Starting to feel better.  Threw the bike into the van and headed home.  6km in 30 minutes with 190m of climbing.  Surprised me.

Sunday 7th June

Up early and ready to go.  Shecked the tracks update from the council and it said tracks were closed or at avoid.  No looking good. Outside to meet the boys I went.  Got a text from Sandals saying she would meet us at the top so I warned her that it may be a tarmac ride.  She immediately pulled out.  She was a bit premature.  Tinkerbell, Silverfox, Dozer and Bugs all met me and we headed up Huntsbury (not breaking any records but a steady climb ).  At the top there were heaps of people on the Traverse and Vernon track and the signs said open so we decided to check out Vernon.  Track was in mint condition.  Fast and not slippery.  Raced down here with a quick regroup at the top of Rapaki.  Chatted and decided to look at Witch Hill.  Not signs here but once again the track was in great condition.  Bugs and Dozer then rode the walking track towards Castle Hill while the responsible lads took the road.  Up to Castle Rock with an open sign on it so we took it.  Bugs led followed by me, fox etc.  (tinks was trying out his new platforms so no clips) Track here was greasy at the start but no more than usual.  Got better as we went so we kept the speed up.  No punctures.  Around the road to John Brittan which was short and quick before heading towards Greenwood.  Sign said it was open so we took it.  Mint condition so we pumped through here.  I had a dab in gloomy gulch, cleaned the crappy hairpin corner but munted the rocks at the end.  Dozer and Tinks led into Ct Thomas followed by me.  This is where it got interesting.  I somehow nearly came off going around the first bluff on the shared bit of track.  Never done that before.  The track had a few damp patches but nothing to close a track for.  I cleaned the first rock and 99% of the next.  I think my wheel slipped in the mud as you come off, hit a rock the turned 90 degrees causing me to do a very slow over the bars,  Stayed clipped in which meant I slammed rather well.  Sore wrist, ribs and elbow.  Straightened some bent bars and continued on down.  A graze and bruise on the elbow is all that remains of the incident.  Drinks at Dot Com.  About to ride when I noticed a lack of air in my rear tyre.  No problem pumped it up but when I removed the pump the valve centre came out.  Put that back in and pumped it up again.  Same thing happened.  By this time Dozer and Bugs were gone.  After 5 attempts to get it tight I put in a tube.  How awful is that.  The 3 of us rode back to me.  My body aching the more I rode from the fall.  Wrist got bloody sore but all in all a great ride.

http://www.mapmyride.com/workout/1017678011

Sunday 31st May (Queens birthday weekend)

The night before saw the temperature drop to -4, so you can imagine it was a cool frosty morning to set off on a ride! The following riders met outside Rubberjaws place at 9am: Tinkerbell, Silverfox, Phatboy, Dozer, Sandals and Sandals friend Chris (aka John). Rubberjaws and some others were away enjoying the long weekend elsewhere.

We set off around to Rapaki and started to climb. It only took 20-30m up Rapaki before we could feel the difference in air temp start to warm up and by the first cattle stop we were all taking off layers. A steady climb up Rapaki, a quick regroup at the top and off over Mt Vernon and around the traverse track to regroup again at the top of Vic Park. The decision was made to attempt a ‘puncture  free’ ride of the Nun, so we set off down Thompsons track and then a short break at the Kiwi to admire some lovely motorcycles that were parked up. (Silverfox in his element). Chris (aka John) had a slow puncture and decided to head down the hill from here as home was not far. The rest of us carried on up to the Nun and all had a good ‘puncture free’ run down back to the Kiwi. (Although some of us took it a bit easier than normal to avoid possible punctures).

From the Kiwi we headed back up to the top of Vic Park and then down through the rock garden and gums to the skidder site and regrouped. Phatboy taking the alternate route incorporating the wall ride. From here we proceeded down Shazza’s, Brents and on to New Bridges. Another regroup and up the Hidden track to finish on Old School Bowenvale. Everyone happy with their ride, we stopped off at Protocol (formally Elevate) for a coffee/pint and Dozer shouted us some chips. Another good ride on a beautiful Autumn day.