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.