Sunday 29th October

Feeling slightly tired thanks to a great night during and after the rugby.  Silverfox, Tiinkerbell and The Cook (on his new rig), arrived and we chatted and decided a ride to Sumner and up Ct Thomas was a good idea.  We rode around via the Woolston Cut and Towpath to Ferrymead Bridge where we hooked up with Phatboy and Dozer.  Stiff easterly blowing as we pumped along the Coastal Pathway then onto the road out to Sumner.  Took off a layer at the bottom of the track before starting up.  Good climb but a few of us were complaining of being wobbly.  Phatboy included.  Evans pass was a stop in the shade before wobbling our way up Godley Head track.  The further we went the better we got.  At the top of Annaconda we decided to head out to the heads above the road.  Took the steep highline as our normal line has got a bit overgrown.  A wee rest in the sun at the carpark before coming back under the road.  Good wee run around here.  Down the snake where we all had good pace , then the tail.  Some sort of event was just winding up and the traffic up the road was pretty thick.  We all survived but the cars slowed us down coming down into Sumner.  Cruised along the beach front and then stopped at Dot Com.  Nice ride back with a tail wind.

http://www.mapmyride.com/workout/2548651215

Day 5 Trip. Queenstown on the 17th October

Drove to Queenstown.  Phatboy and The Cook hired some heavy duty downhill rigs for the morning.  The rest of us got organised and then up the Gondala.  1st run was as a team and after this we split up.  I rode with Silverfox the whole morning.  Enjoyed myself thouroughly. Even survived the gondala lifts.  Favourite tracks for the day were Singletrack Sammy and Thingmajig. Got loose and carefree for the morning.Everyone did their thing and rode as much as they wanted.  Great morning.  Had a wonder around town and then back to camp for a great evening.

http://www.mapmyride.com/workout/2526985497

Day 4 of the trip. October 16th Alexandra and Bannockburn

Up and drove to Alexandra and out to a track called Flattop.  Parked up and then Bugs, Dozer and The Cook discovered they had left the key to the Bike Lock back in Cromwell.  Off they went.  The rest of us rugged up and went and explored around the dam at the start of the track.  Sat in the sun and generally waited.  Eventually the boys got back and we started to climb.  Not a bad climb with only one or two pinches.  Stopped for a dump half way which made me feel better.  Up to the top where it was typical Alex country.  Most of the lads enjoyed themselves with jumps and rock climbing etc.  I did not get my head into it for some reason.  Zoned out and fecked off really.  Overall an ok ride for me but the others enjoyed it.  Back to town for lunch.

http://www.mapmyride.com/workout/2525049968

After lunch went to explore some tracks with Phatboy but they were closed so we drove to Bannockburn to ride around an old mining site.  What an interesting and eventful afternoon.  Started with a steep climb then Phatboy wrecked his deraileur and lots of spokes in a non event.  He walked back while we rode on.  Some interesting sites but nothing exciting.  Around and up.  Got attacked by a Magpie and then it was downhill.  This was fun and fast.  Got back to the cars and as they loaded the Cooks bike on the rack they discovered the frame was cracked.  This trip was getting expensive.

http://www.mapmyride.com/workout/2525184623

Day 3 October 15th Wanaka

Up earlyish and drove to Wanaka.  1st ride was Deans Bank which we found out is like Mcleans Island on a hill with only a couple interesting bits.  The final downhill was fun though.  It was just a matter of climb, ride across, down then climb across and down again.  I enjoyed most of it but there were a couple who loathed it.

http://www.mapmyride.com/workout/2523078641

Into town for lunch before heading out to Sticky forest.  We all had a blast.  challenged ourselves, rode up and down and explored tracks we had never ridden.  Map my ride did not get elevations right for some reason but there was a lot of up and down.  Really enjoyed myself and I think the others did too.  Finally started to think...hmmm legs getting tired time to finish.

http://www.mapmyride.com/workout/2523357812

Trip day 2 Naseby 14th October

We loaded up and set out for the long drive to Naseby.  Long slow drive with McGyver getting slower as he conserved fuel.  Gave me the shits so had to stop and hide behind a tree.  Anyhow finally there and on the bikes.  First tract was a fizzer as we rode up, clambered and found the tracks had been logged. Faffed about and came back down before finding a track that took us to the water race.  Found some tracks which were quite cool and challenging.  The followed the water race and found total destruction of all the best tracks.  Continued on and finally found a cool track that we all enjoyed.  Out and across to find some more tracks.  The Cook seat played up so a big regroup.  Then rode on.  The next track was started then bang as Silverrfox broke a deraileur.  He and I did an emergency dash back to Clyde Bike Shop to get a new one..  Back to camp.  When the others arrived Mcgyver fixed the issues.  A few laughs.

http://www.mapmyride.com/workout/2521538627

Trip day 1 Friday 13th October Tekapo

Up bright and early .  Collected Silverfox and Tinkerbell before driving out to Cookietime where we hooked up with Bugs, Dozer and The Cook 1st and then later with McGyver, Mellonfarmer and Phatboy.  The convoy set out and eventually pulled up at Tekapo MTB Park.  Some faffing about and then we rode.  Tried my driving sunglasses.  Will not do that again.  The track was not all that tough,easy really.  We did do one little steep grunt to a look out before heading back towards the cars.  Headed south again.

http://www.mapmyride.com/workout/2519879784

Saturday 30th September

Up early and outside by 8am to meet the team for a ride only to remember it was a 8.30 start so back inside for a quick laydown.  8.30 I went out and met Silverfox, Tinkerbell and The Cook.  We rode off heading to Ferrymead collecting Dozer at Bamford Bridge before heading around to collect Dozer at Ferrymead Bridge.  Up St Andrews Hill with The Cook setting the pace. Steady all the way and then I led into John Brittain with Bugs passing me about 3/4s of the way up.  We went right at the top before hopping the fence and heading up Broadleaf Lane.  Down Mt Pleasant at a good little pace before heading under the Gondola and to Castle Rock Track.  Good climb up here with a couple of us making just 1 dab to clear the steep section and a couple of dabs around the hairpins.  Down and over Witch Hill and then Vernon.  Regrouped and then made Dozer lead around the Traverse.  Good clip around here with us being held up by slower riders a couple of times.  Of course we blamed Dozer on his Fire Engine Red Trek.  Down into Vic by way of thedownhill trail then into Shazzas, Brents, Bridges etc.  Decided to go up Hidden Valley and do Old skool.  Great run down before we split and headed home.  A few went for coffee.

http://www.mapmyride.com/workout/2494631861