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