20th February Craigieburn

I headed around and collected Silverfox and Tinkerbell before driving out to the Sheffield pie shop which was today's meeting point.  In short order the others showed up, McGyver then Bugs with The Cook, Mellonfarmer followed by Phatboy and Dozer.  They were shuttling 2 big V8s to Craigieburn for a couple of Phatboys clients.  We all drove upto Broken River carpark with a short detour to drop off the mcGyvers and mellonfarmers cars at Castle Hill Village which were to be shuttle bugs later.  headed up and parked at the enviro centre buildings by the start of Dracophyllum downhill.  From here we headed around and down to the start of Dixon's.  Nice small down before a short sharp up to the actual beginning of the track.  The Cook peeled off back to the cars due to heart thumping palpitations while the rest of us climbed to the top of Dixon's d/h.  Not a bad climb but always good to get to the top.  nice sweet downhill to follow with no mishaps, lots of smiles all the way back to State Highway 73.  I got a wasp sting on the way down which pissed me off no end.  Along the road back to the carpark for a regroup then up Sidle 73.  Everyone at their own pace.  the little climb seemed way easier than last time.  We cruised up the Craigieburn access rd to the 15 minute track to Lyndon saddle track.  A lot of pushing by quite a few of us ensued.  We all rode what we could.  Altitude sucks energy for sure. Up to Lyndon saddle we went before heading down the Luge.  For many the best track of the day.  I started a bit slow but got faster and faster as i felt more comfortable.  no mishaps at all.  A regroup before heading up the road to the cars. No Cook.  checked phones to find he had headed down dracophyllum and we would catch him. It took some catching.  dracophyllum seemed rougher than usual but so much fun, across the bridge and then the stinky climb up to the flats.  really nice cruise through here then into forest and a little grunt up to Texas flats where we took a break.  We could see the Cook pushing up the Hogs back.  We headed down all clearing the creek before ambling across and up up up to Picnic Rock.  Some success on the stinky first climb for some, some pushing for others.  I felt reasonably good by time I cleaned the hairpins and seemed to gain on the others as we headed across and up to Picnic Rock.  We caught a glimpse of the Cook as he was heading down.  Off we went.  Love this part of Hogs back.  lots of down a couple of short ups and more down.  Caught the Cook at the 2nd to last up.  Onwards across to the final up, up past the dead tree and along the ridge to the last downhill.  My favourite down even if it is short. blasted down here with a shit eating grin on my face to the end where a small regroup occurred.  cross country back to the cars where Bugs got out the equipment for a sausage sizzle.  Yummy finish.  back home we headed.

http://www.mapmyride.com/workout/1352665819