Friday 23rd December.

Dozer arrived at Bugs place at 930 as discussed. The drizzle had just started but looked like it was going to blow though quite quick. (How wrong were we) We headed off around the river past Rubberjaws to Huntsbury where Tinkerbell was waiting. Hadn't headed up this way for a while. Started the grind up here till the 3rd bend where Dozer stopped to take a layer off. Continued up the rest with no stops. Noticed a few new buildings up there since the last time. Up the last steep climb with the loose shingle on. Tinkerbell dropped back a little here as he was on his hard tail. (Loose bearing on this normal ride). Short break at the start of the Traverse. Noticed a few dark heavy clouds coming our way as we headed into the traverse. Drizzle became rain as we got around half way to Vic park. Stopped in the trees where we were protected from the heavy rain. Jackets were put on and Bug's put his ground effect water proof pants on. Down though the 1st short run below the road then Bug's took the road to Dyers and the others did the 2nd short track. Headed up the road to the top of The Body bag. Decided not to ride the Nun as this would not be fun with the wet rocks. Dropped down the Body bag which was quite slippy due to the rain. Had to ride in the ruts so we wouldn't come to grief. Got to the Gate to the new bike park which was locked. Tinkerbell suggested that we jump the fence and sneak in which we reluctantly did. Rode up the road until we found the 1st track. The Green one called Dan's Donut. This looked slippy with the rain that was falling. Bug's lead with the others not far behind. Great track with big sweeping banked corners. This would be great in the dry but turned out to be slippy as riding on ice. Couple of close calls as we headed down. The dust that was on the track had turned into a 3cm thick mud that flew off the tyres like a plow and stuck to everything. Stopped at a junction where we talked to another rider who informed us they had closed the Blue and black tracked due to the slippy conditions. A large group of 20+ down hill riders rode though slipping and sliding. Gave them a few minutes then continued down. Half way down we caught them as they were having trouble turning there wheels with all the mud. Bug's got past them and continued down wards. The mud just got thinker as we came out at the carpark. Joined the Que to wash the bikes down. The Reign was twice it's normal weight and the muddiest it has ever been. Bug's was about the same. After losing most of the mud we had a quick look around and run into Helmut. Had a chat in the rain then we headed off. Tinkerbell turned off to his while Bug's n Dozer rode across town to Bug's place. Dozer headed home while Bug's washed the Bike, Helmet, Shoes, Pants, Jacket, Bag and undies. Great last group ride of the year for some. Keen to head back into the park but only on a dry day. Merry Christmas to all. Bu

g's

Sunday 18th December

As written by Mellonfarmer cos RubberJaws got a sick guts and had to crap his morning away.  reworked by Mellonfarmer

9am meeting at Rubberjaw's, MF was on his Fatty because he'd blown up his drivetrain on Wednesday night and hadn't replaced it yet.  He found RJ, Tinks, Slyfox and Dozey waiting for Phatbuoy (who didn't show) and then a text from Monsieur deSpa saying he was 5 minutes away.  Around Aynsley Tce and then up Crapaki, busy as always.  Reasonable pace up here but Rubberjawns's sick guts were starting to disturb him as they headed into the Full Monty.  Nice climb up and around then fun bits, with only MF taking the 'harder' option, from the rear, getting in behind Tinks and JubberRaws for the next section rolling across the face of the hill.  They stopped and peered down at Glenelg spur looking for potential ways up here.  It was here, that Jubber decided that he'd be bailing when they got back to the main track.  Cruised the climb through to the end, RJ bailed and MF led the way up the singletrack above the main drag.  Good roll up here; the fat bike feeling good.  Only deSpa-rado and MF stayed on the singletrack, the others choosing the easier climb,  Regrouped at the top.

Up around Vernon, easy riding, and into Traverse, speaking with a clusterfuck of riders all seemingly taking turns at attempting to fix some guy's tire...  Left them to it and had an awesome run around the Traverse.. Regrouped at the usual spot, and let some riders through, then on around to Vic Park for another regroup before the trees.  Into the trees and down past the see-saw then down through the rockgarden and the favourite little left-hand gummies trail.  Rolled out to the skidder site and there's a guy under a space-blanket being tended to, blood on his head, not looking too flash.  Result of the usual over cooking of the jump, landing nose first and being polevaulted head first into the ground.  Ambulance on it's way.  This is the umpteenth time we've found people injured here - and Beckyboo who rode with us years ago nailed her head here too...  Treat. With. Caution.  

Off down Spazza's, then straight down between Pono's and Brents and out the ridge straight ahead, and into a new wee one MF'd done a wee while back on his own.  Sweet steep entry, then a couple of techy features, then more steep and then zigs and zags in an oak forest, then over a wee jump (that looks worse than it is) onto Bridges.  Down this into Flow/NewFlow and the lower swoopy zigs and zags and down the bottom of the valley.

Into Hidden Valley Track, MF cleaned the creek nicely and was just making his way up the steep bit immediately after and he couldn't hold onto his balance and started toppling.  Left foot wouldn't eject and over he went, landing upside down, bike pretty much still on the trail, still attached, lying in a big old pile of blackberry.  Elbow blooded, and knee must have smacked the bike somewhere, and arm a little shredded by the blackberry.  He managed to climb out and get riding again, cleaning the first and last two upper switchbacks but not the lower second one.

Into Old Skool.  Mostly a good run, some of the rocks proving a bit pushy on the fatty, but everyone quite enjoyed it. 

Down Bowenvale, and Tinks, Silverfoxy and Dozer went for coffee, with deSpa-rado and MF splitting on their separate ways.

 With all the riding across town MF, totalled 31 kms, and climbed 585.  Tinks managed 34 kms, and somehow 635m climbed...

Tuesday 6th December

I rode from Thorrington School around Cashmere Rd and hooked up with Silverfox for a late start.  Dozer, Bugs, Tinkerbell, Phatboy and The Cook started earlier from the exit to Lower Dyers Rd track which they rode up and then did a couple of loops of Marleys before heading back down the same track stopping along the way to look at big cables in the bush....yeah right.

Silverfox and I did a steady climb up Hackthorne Rd before hitting the steeper section into Vic park.  I led over the shingle track past the visitors Centre and then to the digger site.  From here we headed straight up the guts track.  I cleaned it while the Fox had a wee push when the going got a bit tough.  Continued on up and then through the pines to the top of Vic.  Had a nice run down Thompsons and then ambled over to the start of lower Dyers.  Looked to see if we could spot the boys but no sign of them.  I led off down Dyers track having some fun.  Got to the first big open section and what do I find.  A bunch of lads coming out of the forest with silly grins on their faces.  "Oh we have just been looking at big cables in here, do you want a look?"  No way I say thinking what sort of cables are you really looking at?   Silverfox rode up and then we all headed down as a group to their cars.  They drove down to the bar me thinks.  Silverfox and I rode back up into Vic Park and retraced our ride down the hill.  I nearly rearended a car in Vic Park along the way.  At Hackthorne and Dyers Cnr Silverfox headed down Hackthorne while I went down Dyers.  Nice little ride.

2 Map my rides to show.  Mine and the boys.

http://www.mapmyride.com/workout/1898676518

http://www.mapmyride.com/workout/1898668910

Sunday 4 December

Tinkerbell arrived at mine and we headed off around the road and into Radley Park and along the Heathcote Cut.  picked up Bugs at the footbridge and then crusised around the towpath towards ferrymead Bridge.  Dozer appeared just before the bridge and we stopped and chatted.  The weather was still quite cool so we decided not to remove any layers so we started up St Andrews Hill at a steady but enjoyable pace.  Chatting as we rode.  Up to the start of Lower John Brittain.  Dozer set the pace up here and we headed straight out onto the Summit Rd.  Bugs put on his new knee pads.  The usual comments were mentioned about his need to kneel for us all the time.  Into the old Greenwood entrance having a good ride in here except when I dabbed amongst the rocks and then Dozer dabbed on a straight section.  Stopped at the ruins well Tins put air in the top of his tire.  Then we headed down.  Once again Dozer stopped and dabbed in an unusual pace before he rode on.  headed down down down with a regroup at the road.  Spotted TeRex and his buddies.  Up Godley we went.  Good climb on the first section and although dozer and I dabbed we all cleaned the next bit.  After this it was dab dab dab for some of us until the end of the worst rocks.  Good ride from here.  Down the other side.  Some work happening here so it got dusty.  Stopped for a bite to eat before climbing over the next hump.  Good clean run only stopping for Bugs when he had a minor mechanical.  I led off down the Anaconda.  They have certainly stuffed up this track or the top part.  Shingle thick and loose in all the wrong spots.  Finally got through the shit to some hard pack and got a good run down, regrouped at the top of the tail before continuing on to a pit stop at Taylors. Bugs took off his knee pads and then we headed up and over the hill.  Good clean run with hardly any silliness while riding.....yeah right.  Coffe and tea at Dot Com before heading back towards home with first Dozer turning towards home then Bugs with Tinks and myself finishing where we started.

http://www.mapmyride.com/workout/1895671436

Meanwhile, starting a little earlier, Mellonpharmacist rode with DeSpaPool, up Shuntsbury, round the Traversii, and down through Pic Vark, Schmidden Valley and the Old Skoooool.