Sunday, 26th July

Phatboy, Silverfox, Buggs, Mellonfarmer and Dozer met at Rubberjaw's place, planning on meeting Sandals further up the hill.  Headed round through Hanson's Park and up Ramahamahana, Aotea and Grunts, getting warmer as they climbed, all delayering at somestage.  Bloody windy when they got to the top, and Sandals waved out from a little further up on Mt Vernon, so they joined her but it was just as windy there.  Once regrouped onwards they cruised around into the wind and down the hill.  Off piste to let some climbers climb, and bit of a regroup again at top of Farm Track, slightly less windy here.  Then the blast down, zwoop zwoop round the hairpins and across the Rapaki-top and straight into Witch Hill, cruising around and down to the road and finally a respite from the wind in the lee of a roadside bank.  Rubberjaws bailed here on account of his guts, down Crapaki for him.  The rest of the crew moseyed onwards up, battling the wind across the saddle below the Tors, and then finding the top of Castle Rock to be quite peaceful. Excellent run down this trail, in mint condition with wind a bit of a factor in places, trying to steer tires off the track, but all survived getting pushed up the uphill bits and around, and in the face on the last descent before the end.  Regrouped at a very busy top of Bridle Path and then rolled on around the road.  Insane winds just got stronger and stronger as they approached the Gondola corner, nearly stopping them at the corner itself, then completely disappearing about 50m up the road from there.  Then, leaving the closed road section they were all pushed up hill for a bit, again.  Another regroup at the start to John Britten.  Mellonfarmer led off down the singletrack, hammering around and staying on the low line, til the curved climb back up to the trees and back into the wind and around to the end.  Here, he peeled off down, wanting to get home earlier than usual, and had a swoopy fun blast down through Britten, then McCormacks (nearly crashing) and home by 11.30.  The rest of the crew headed over Greenwood, and last Mellonfarmer (writing this) heard, were intending on heading all the way out Godley and Anaconda.  He assumes they had coffee at DotComa and were home later...

Sunday 19th...a day that made last week look warm

I set off at 9 by myself.  Rained overnight and although the tracks were officially open I thought that they would be to wet so rode to ferrymead on the road.  met up with  Dozer and we set off to Sumner.  Headed up Evans Pass.  Grunted for me with a stiff and very cold wind in our faces all the way.  Dozer led all the way.  Had a wee rest at the top before admiring how much snow on herbert etc.  From here we headed up the Summit Rd at  a better pace.  Sheltered from the wind.  At the pines we got more wind again.  Up until here we had only seen 1 rider and that was a roadie.  Started noticing flakes of ice drifting down from the cloud above us.  Got heavier at times and really whipped around us in small gusts of wind.  Feet and fingers and nose all starting to freeze.  Sections of black ice on the road.  Looked at Greenwood as we rode past and it was soggy.  Why was it open!!?? Just after Broadleaf the Wind and frozen moisture picked up causing Dozer to dab.  Headed down towards the Bridal path as fast as conditions allowed.  We were so cold now we debated heading down here but decided to aim for rapaki.  Up the road to Castle Rock (could not of ridden the track as when we looked it was covered in snow and sheets of ice) with a little shelter then down the otherside with some caution.  At the bottom the wind was so strong I was riding on a lean and still got blown towards the other side.  needed to stop and adjust my mind set.  We then headed around towards Rapaki.  A few riders heading over vernon but not many.  Good luck on staying on the singletrack in the wind.  We headed down past lots of walkers skirting not just ice puddles but ice sheets on the way down.  Then home.  27.9km in 2 hours.  never been so cold.  The wind was crazy.  Turns out Phatboy did a later ride up Mt Pleasant discovering it was a mudfest and came down Mt Pleasant. and MacGuyver and Mellonfarmer, and Jettison the dog, ventured into snow on the Lees Valley Rd

http://www.mapmyride.com/workout/1078723043

Sunday 12th July...Bloody Freezing ride

Went outside at 8.50 with ice everywhere and an air temp of minus 5.  Phatboy showed up first then Tinkerbell and Silverfox.  We set off around the usual route towards Ferrymead.  The track was frozen solid, the puddles were sheets oof ice and any wooden structure was slick as so some care was taken.  Met Sandals and Dozer at the Bridge.  All tracks were closed so we headed up St Andrews, onto Marama and then up Canon Hill to the park at the top where we had a quick regroup.  We finallt took off some extra layers before continuing the climb.  When we entered the lower section of John Brittan we found the ice had thawed and it was slick with mud.  Not all that good for riding but better than nothing.  We took different routes upto the main track and then over the fence and rode the first 100m of Broadleaf Lane.  The guys stopped in the sun while I popped down to where Grace stayed the night.  Said Hello and and rejoined the team.  Headed around the summit rd and at the pines above Richmond Hill we climbed the fence and headed down the farm track.  Took some off Piste lines down through all the new dewvelopment gathering some mud as we went before the fast mud clearing downhill of the road.  Into Dot Com to warm up and drink hot drinks.  We then headed home with a slight detour due to some deconstruction occuring above the Main Rd just before the causeway.  Phatboy, Sandals and Dozer split off at the Bridge while the other 3 followed the river back to mine.  Not a bad ride considering no tracks available.

Meantime, Mellonfarmer was in the much milder town of Nelson, riding and walking some very technical tracks...

Sunday 5th July

After a good sleep I went outside and hooked up with the Silverfox.  We rode around towards Ferrymead along the usual route collecting Bugs at the footbridge before winding our way to the Ferrymead Bridge where we hooked up with Dozer and Sandals.  I was the paceman as we climbed up St Andrews, Marama, St Andrews and eventually coming out at Upper Major Hornbrook.  I then led off up the single track but Bugs, Dozer and Sandals took the shortcut  with Bugs and Dozer getting in front of me.  We regrouped at the hairpin before I led off to the gate and the climb up Broadleaf Lane.  Sandals does not do Broadleaf so she rode down and started the climb up and over the Gondola Track.  The shingle above Broadleaf seemed better and the rest of us attained the top in quick order.  Rugged up a bit as it was blowing a cold breeze up here.  Bugs led them me, Dozer and the Fox.  Good roll down here in the wind.  We then re-ordered ourselves for the climb over Gondola Hill.  Bugs leading then Dozer.  At one point I look up just in time to see Bugs somersaulting down the hill.  He had toppled off.  He looked okay so we continued on.  Track was greasy in places.  Dozer would get a hairpin and I wouldn't or I would get one and he wouldn't.  Reached the top after passing through 2 lots of gates and started the downhill.  Greasy but fun.  I waited a bit halfway as the Fox was missing for a bit.  We then finished the last section.  Regrouped at the top of Bridal Path.  I had an appointment so I headed down here while the others continued on their way.

My trip down was fast.  Slowed whenever I saw walkers (and there were lots).  Some people obviously did not like me riding their track.  Got home quickly while the others...

... headed up the Castle Hill single track. We haven't traveled this way very often. Bug's lead with Dozer and the Fox not far behind. Sandals was bringing up the rear. We all had the odd dab but managed most of the track. Regroup at the top of Castle Hill where Bug's meet some friends from the Heaphy trip. After a chat we continued on down the tarsel heading towards Rapaki. Decided to give Witch Hill a miss as there was a working Bee going on there and heaps of people there digging away. Past Rapaki and up Mt Vernon. Nice ride up here with Bug's getting a small lead. Another regroup then into the Traverse. Wind was strong and cold. Dozer lead followed by Bugs then The Fox and Sandals. Bug's took the rocky track to the left before the lava flow letting The Fox sneak past. After the Lava flow Dozer had a small mishap on a wet rock that let The Fox take the lead, Bug's snuck past as well. Nice pace to the half way point. Still a cold wind so Bug's took the lead and managed to chase down a group of 5 slower riders just before the down hill to the top of Vic park. Waited just past the cattle stop for them to get to Vic Park then headed down at speed. The Fox was close behind. Regroup in the trees as it was out of the wind. Bug's knee was getting sore from the earlier miss hap. Might need some further investigating. Headed down the rock garden with the 3 boys close together. Sandals took her own Root and we all meet at the skidder site. Down Shazza's which we all enjoyed. Headed the rest of the way down with Bug's sneaking past the Fox when he got a little lost on which track to take. Everyone was enjoying the down hill so we headed up the hidden valley and onto Bowenvale track. Bug's lead down with the rest chasing. Some areas in the shade were muddy and slippy. Sandals found it quite scary in places. Regroup at the bottom then off to Kazza's for a coffee. The Fox headed home at 1pm as he was late, Sandals headed to her place. Bug's n Dozer rode across town to there places. Great long ride which we all enjoyed. As I type this my Knee (Bug's) has swollen and won't bend so it could be a trip to see the Doc tomorrow.