Sunday 7th June

Up early and ready to go.  Shecked the tracks update from the council and it said tracks were closed or at avoid.  No looking good. Outside to meet the boys I went.  Got a text from Sandals saying she would meet us at the top so I warned her that it may be a tarmac ride.  She immediately pulled out.  She was a bit premature.  Tinkerbell, Silverfox, Dozer and Bugs all met me and we headed up Huntsbury (not breaking any records but a steady climb ).  At the top there were heaps of people on the Traverse and Vernon track and the signs said open so we decided to check out Vernon.  Track was in mint condition.  Fast and not slippery.  Raced down here with a quick regroup at the top of Rapaki.  Chatted and decided to look at Witch Hill.  Not signs here but once again the track was in great condition.  Bugs and Dozer then rode the walking track towards Castle Hill while the responsible lads took the road.  Up to Castle Rock with an open sign on it so we took it.  Bugs led followed by me, fox etc.  (tinks was trying out his new platforms so no clips) Track here was greasy at the start but no more than usual.  Got better as we went so we kept the speed up.  No punctures.  Around the road to John Brittan which was short and quick before heading towards Greenwood.  Sign said it was open so we took it.  Mint condition so we pumped through here.  I had a dab in gloomy gulch, cleaned the crappy hairpin corner but munted the rocks at the end.  Dozer and Tinks led into Ct Thomas followed by me.  This is where it got interesting.  I somehow nearly came off going around the first bluff on the shared bit of track.  Never done that before.  The track had a few damp patches but nothing to close a track for.  I cleaned the first rock and 99% of the next.  I think my wheel slipped in the mud as you come off, hit a rock the turned 90 degrees causing me to do a very slow over the bars,  Stayed clipped in which meant I slammed rather well.  Sore wrist, ribs and elbow.  Straightened some bent bars and continued on down.  A graze and bruise on the elbow is all that remains of the incident.  Drinks at Dot Com.  About to ride when I noticed a lack of air in my rear tyre.  No problem pumped it up but when I removed the pump the valve centre came out.  Put that back in and pumped it up again.  Same thing happened.  By this time Dozer and Bugs were gone.  After 5 attempts to get it tight I put in a tube.  How awful is that.  The 3 of us rode back to me.  My body aching the more I rode from the fall.  Wrist got bloody sore but all in all a great ride.

http://www.mapmyride.com/workout/1017678011

Sunday 31st May (Queens birthday weekend)

The night before saw the temperature drop to -4, so you can imagine it was a cool frosty morning to set off on a ride! The following riders met outside Rubberjaws place at 9am: Tinkerbell, Silverfox, Phatboy, Dozer, Sandals and Sandals friend Chris (aka John). Rubberjaws and some others were away enjoying the long weekend elsewhere.

We set off around to Rapaki and started to climb. It only took 20-30m up Rapaki before we could feel the difference in air temp start to warm up and by the first cattle stop we were all taking off layers. A steady climb up Rapaki, a quick regroup at the top and off over Mt Vernon and around the traverse track to regroup again at the top of Vic Park. The decision was made to attempt a ‘puncture  free’ ride of the Nun, so we set off down Thompsons track and then a short break at the Kiwi to admire some lovely motorcycles that were parked up. (Silverfox in his element). Chris (aka John) had a slow puncture and decided to head down the hill from here as home was not far. The rest of us carried on up to the Nun and all had a good ‘puncture free’ run down back to the Kiwi. (Although some of us took it a bit easier than normal to avoid possible punctures).

From the Kiwi we headed back up to the top of Vic Park and then down through the rock garden and gums to the skidder site and regrouped. Phatboy taking the alternate route incorporating the wall ride. From here we proceeded down Shazza’s, Brents and on to New Bridges. Another regroup and up the Hidden track to finish on Old School Bowenvale. Everyone happy with their ride, we stopped off at Protocol (formally Elevate) for a coffee/pint and Dozer shouted us some chips. Another good ride on a beautiful Autumn day.

Sunday 24th May

I went outside to grab my bike to find it really really cold and icey.  At the gate bang on 9 and then Tinkerbell and Silverfox drove up.  Chatted with them for a mo.  They were driving out to Sumner so they could get home early.  I rode by myself around the usual route to Ferrymead Bridge.  Here I hooked up with Dozer and Mellonfarmer (on his fat stead)  Good solid ride out along the new section of Coastal Walkway and then along the causeway.  Arrived at  Sumner and hooked up with the boys before steady ride up to Sumnervale.  Derobed here before starting the climb.  Me tail end charlie.  Good climb even if not my fastest.  After the hairpins Dozer discovered a bent rear cluster and could not engage the bottom 3 gears.  It made for a tougher climb.  Onwards and upwards we went and then straight into Godley track.  The fatbike cleaned the first rocks with traction to spare.  Onwards we rode making way for some fast flying riders heading our way before continuing.  There was a bit of dabbing amongst us all.  Down towards Livingstone Col.  The fatbike not as fast down.  had an excellant run myself feeling so much better going down the climbing.  Up and over the next bump and then we rode above the rode to Godley.  Nice track here and coming back was fast and flowing.  Down the Anaconda at top speed.  Just on the last barstard hairpin felt a bit spongy in the rear.  Stopped and pumped the tyre up with goo flowing out.  Rode  some more and pumped again but it was holding quite good.  At Taylors Mellonfarmer pulled out for lunch with the family.  On the climb I discovered that Dozers rear shock was flat so a harder climb for him.  Topped up a little air for me and continued at steady speed.  Flew done to Sumner and stopped at Dot Com.  Tinks and the Fox climbed in the van while Dozer and i Rode back the way we came.  He loaded up into his car at the bridge and i finished the ride home on my own.  1pm home time,

http://www.mapmyride.com/workout/997750665

Tuesday 19th May

We were having a meeting re the trip so a flat ride was planned.  Went outside for 6.15 start and met Silverfox (on his sperm bike) Tinkerbell (on the Marin) The Cook (on his fatbike) and Bugs (on his old giant).  We set off along Opawa Rd, Shakespear and then right into Waltham and over the bridge.  From here we cut in front of CPIT and though by their preschool, past Visions Restaurant and out to Madras/St Asaph St.  Headed down High St and then into the Square.  Down Worcester to the Museum and right towards the Aramgh entrance to Hagley.  By the bridge we hooked up with Phatboy (riding Uncle).  We then sprinted around North Hagley, slowed to cross the road at Womans Hospital.  From here  we headed left around South Hagley at Warp speed only stopping to regroup at the point we started.  Across the road we headed through the hospital, over the newly restored Antigua Bridge and then right following the river to the Bridge of Remembrance.  Down oxford Tce, into hereford and then the Square before hanging left into Glucester and then New Regent.  We locked all the bikes together and then went into The Instituiton for drinks.  Played cards against humanities with first Mellonfarmer and MacGyver arriving shortly followed by Dozer.  Quick meeting and then continued playing.  About 9.45 we all headed out.  On the bikes Bus, the Cook and I headed down Manchester, Tuam, before splitting towards home at Barbadoes.  I headed over the bridge and returned via Shakespear and Opawa Rd.  Great sprint, great beer and great laughs.

http://www.mapmyride.com/workout/991315531

Sunday 17th May

Up early today with 8am sharp start planned.  headed outside to find Bugs and Silverfox cleaning the street and putting all the rubbish at my gate.  Headed off bang on 8am down the road and started the climb up Rapaki.  Half way up the road got a text from Phatboy..."Where are you?".  Told him then carried on.  I knew he would give chase.  Anyhow we continued the climb with Bugs leading the way.  I hung onto his back wheel, wheezing all the way and expecting Phatboy to catch us at any moment.  We slowly dropped Silverfox a tad but at the flat we had a rolling regroup.  Started the last grunt and Bugs slowly left us behind,  Just before the last bend Phatboy caught us.  Finally made the top with me feeling slightly strung out.  Tracks all at avoid so we headed left around the road at a steady clip.  On the climbs i was dropping back so when we reached castle Rock I immediately headed down towards the Bridal Path and continued on.  The others caught up and we pumped around under the Gondola and eventually to the start of John Brittan. We  rugged up a bit here. Good run down here with the track slick but still rideable at pace.  When we got to Upper Major Hornbrook a text from Tinkerbell to check where we were and he and his Beloved rode up  from Mt Pleasant Rd.  We headed down the hill towards St Andrews having a quick regroup when Dozer rung and we waited for him.  he had ridden up the hill a few minutes behing Tinks and his Beloved.  Down we all headed flowing well into the park down the gnarly steps and then down to the steps at Ferry Rd.  Arrived at the planting where most planted while I had a meeting.  Afterwards we all headed off in different directions.

Saturday 9th May

I was sick and plenty of the team were away or otherwise busy but Phatboy, The Cook and Dozer all met up at Ferrymead Bridge (spotting Mellonfarmer driving past on his way to help the inlaws shift house).  They rode out to  Sumner then did the climb from Sumnervale up Ct Thomas.  Pretty steady ride except Dozer slipped over while clmabering up the steep rock and gave his knee a beating.  They continued on up and although all 3 gave honest attempts on the first rock of Godley no one cleaned it.  Steady ride up and then headed down towards Livingstone Col.  Phatboy phlatted along here.  Phixed the problem and then continued on.  They rode above the road all the way to Godley head where they stopped for a feed.  Dozer discovered that his fork seals had blown out so to preserve them he rode back via the rode heading down Evans Pass and meeting the boys at Dot Com.  The other 2 followed below the rode and then down Anaconda for a blast.  Grunted up from Taylors and headed through Nicholson Park only to find the new route blocked.  They managed to get around the fences and onto WhitewashHead Rd and down to Dot Com.  After drinks they headed back to Ferrymead Bridge where they all went their own way.

Tuesday 5th of May

Ten years Mellonfarmer's been blogging....  (what follows is almost word for word of what's there)

The crew were meeting top of Worsley Rd at 6.15  From all accounts, Tinkerbell, Phatboy, Silfervox and TheCook met.  Ahead of them, McGuyver and Mellonfarmer were already up in the forest where they'd climbed up the trail from the carpark (on the western side of the main track) and arrived up at the bottom of the body bag to find Forest Closed signs, and caterpillar tracks up that entry, which continued straight up the fenceline.  These two boys took the singletrack climb, all the way up, meeting the machine tracks again near the very top.  Into the entrance to Hangloose (or Goat) and within metres had met the machine.  Path a swathe of destruction down to it, cleared trees placed to the side and many more all the way down Hangloose with X's on them ready to go - demarking the boundary of the next area to be logged.  Good bye Hangloose with your groovy swoops and pops, good bye Yoda, not that we ever rode you...  Down they flowed, riding the first log drop, but bypassing the second, and enjoying the steepnesses.  MF crashed on a steep-ass corner he'd bailed on in the past, deciding mid way through it that he didn't want to go where the bike was going so off he stepped, falling backwards, one foot still attached to the pedal, and striking his calf on the hot brake disk - sizzle, then landing ungraciously on his ass.  McG was stopped metres away at a tree across the track.  Under this and on down the last few steep corners to the bottom where climbing began.   MF gasped for air up the internal guts track, even walking once before the pylon-gap, and stopping again further up for air.  From the clifftop, up the original trail, one section where the machine had been rarking up the place, then McG quite surprisingly managed to clean that rocky outcropping near the top that nobody's ever cleaned before.    Out to the top, where they found Phatboy, Tinks  and the Cook.  They'd not long gotten up there on their first climb, and had lost SlitherFox to a broken derailleur (via loose stick) on the way up.  They headed down Original and FightClub and McG and MF headed on up to the entrance to Debbie Does Dallas.  McG took Mr Sutcliffe's new one, while MF took the original.  Fast run down here through the dark douglas fir bit then into the bigger open pine section below the cliff face, and around into Alice's Restaurant.  Good for the first couple of corners but then the steep stuff gave MF the heebeegeebees and he walked a couple of bits.  In the last steep bit just before a wee bridge, McGuyver crashed - hitting the deck pretty hard (even broke the end off his brake lever), and burst open his zip on his bag.  Fixed up and off down again, into the final couple whoopdee's and then through and caught up with the rest of the team down the bottom as they'd just finished Fight Club.  Up to the Junction where The Cook had cooked enough said good bye and the 4 remaining rode up the guts track and into the lower entrance of Fight Club.  Here, McG discovered his rear brake was dodgy, not applying any real pressure to the disk, so, unable to fix it on the spot, he headed off down the way up, and the remaining 3 headed for an excellent blast down Fight Club.  Hopefully the logging doesn't kill this track.  Climbed out to the Junction and then down the finale and back to the cars.  Tinks headed down the road to home (via Fluffy Sheep where McG and MF saw his light and stopped to say See Ya)