Thursday 10th july

Finally a ride. The wet weather has kept most of us off the bikes cos most of the tracks have been closed. Rubberjaws, Fatboy, Geez, Twopot and Tinkerbell met at 6.15ish at Broadpark. Steve the accountant and Fi the Optician met there. Not sure what handles to give them, any suggestions are welcome. Fatboy had light issues and Fi was nervous due it being first time back on the bike after her big fall. Tinkerbell was on his old Marin which was his first Bike and also Rubberjaws before him. Tinks has turned it into a singlespeed and it is looking good. We blasted through the forest everyone riding sweetly. Stopped at Spencerville for a bite and then headed back. Most were doing well. Rubberjaws felt so good he started to sing. Twopots light began to fade which slowed him down a bit. A Phone photo to finish.

Thursday 26th June

We organised a ride through BottleLake Forest. It was the first time through in a while for some of us. Rubberjaws and The Silverfox arrived late to find , Geez and Fatman all ready to ride and a Guy warren? that the Silverfox knows. We headed in from Broad Park. The 4wd track had a few puddles on it but otherwise it was good. The weather was excellent considering the time of year. Not to cold. We hit the single track and it was sweet. Silverfox managed a knee and elbow dab very early but continued on. Part of the horse track that we often use was blocked by tree felling so we had to Bush Bash until we connected with Landfill Rd again. The rest of the ride went smoothly with a few slippery patches to keep you on guard. We stopped for a bite at the Park and then headed back. Good blast and we were all happy with where we were at. Pushed ourselves a bit at different stages. Next ride is planned for Sunday up the Ct Thomas but the weather looks dodgy, we will see.

Saturday 21st June

A fine day for a ride. Geez, Silverfox and Rubberjaws set off at 11.40 and met Mellonfarmer near the bottom of the Rapaki. We ambled up the Rapaki, which is good cos Rubberjaws was off color, and mellonfarmer has not been riding much. The tpo section Geez did in his best style. Good on him. We rode around over Mt Vernon and met Twopot by the big hairpin. We all headed around to the top of Vic park. We stopped and chatted for a while then headed down through the gums. They were 100% better than Tuesday night. Rubberjaws had some brake sicking problem at this oint but as we were going down and they were rear brake problems it did not matter to much. Headed down Dazzas. The work that has been done on this so far is bloody awesome, and by time it is finished it will be crazy cool. Shot over the track onto the new single and this was crazy and unrideable. Not to worry. We all stopped and helped Trees for Canterbury plant some trees and it was all done by 2.30. Geez and Rubberjaws went one way and the others went the other way.

Tuesday 17th June

Geez, Silverfox, The Accountant all met at Rubberjaws and headed up Rapaki. Slowly riding. Rubberjaws was feeling fat and it was a grind. No other riders on the tracks at all which was really weird. Got to the top and decided to ride the road around to the Traverse track due to the rain earlier in the day. Protecting the tracks and all. We got to the start of the track and Rubberjaws discovered the arse had given way in his shorts. It meant that sometimes they would hook up on the seat which was a problem. The track around to the top of Vic was firm but a few wet sections. Good blast really. Down into the rock garden and into the gums. The wettest I have ever found the track. greasy and little grip. The mud just would not leave the tyres. Scared ourselves silly at times and slid rather than rode the track. Discussed options and decided to let the tracks dry, so we rode down the road from the skidder site. Bloomin cold it was the lower we got.

Sunday 15th June

Rubberjaws Party on Saturday night caused a disturbance in the force. Silverfox, Tinkerbell and Geez met at Rubberjaws and the 5 of us rode over to pick up Fatman as he was going to pike. We did not let him. A coffee cruise was called for. Rode into town via Kilmore, hit the track around the river at Madras, into Vic Square, up through the Arts Center around the Gardens and then the mall to C1. Good coffee and quick service. Decided to go to coffee culture next over in cashmere so headed off. Down to the hospital, down past the netball courts, through the back of Beckenham and to the river and along the track. It was to crowded so shot back to the coffee shop opposite New World St Martins. Coffee and food, and then home. cruisy 30 km.

Saturday 7th June

What a day. The worst weather ever. Rubberjaws rode over to the Silverfox's. Geez and Tinkerbell drove over. The four of us were riding upto the Trees for Canterbury planting at the top of Marleys Hill. The idea was to go up Worsley, do the planting and then go down the Flying Nun, into Vic Park etc etc. We had heard there was a race down Worsley so we rode up the Tarmac. When we got to the Sign of the Takahe the rain started. Spoke to the ranger who was coordinating the event by cell phone and she had 300 plants already to go and people starting to arrive so we decided to keep going. By time we got to The sign of the Kiwi, it was cold, very wet and windy. Nearly pulled out at this stage but tough as we are we rode into the eye of the storm to complete the challenge. Fatman drove past near the top to spur us on. We were so cold at this point. All in shorts. When we got to the top S,G and T stopped. Rubberjaws rode past up the track cos he was to cold to stop. The others all followed. We got down the track to the planting site. Welcomed by 20 people all dressed for the winter. We managed to get about 20 plants in between us when the snow started. At this stage we could not feel anything but pain from the cold so Fatman walked up to his car while we rode. Could not feel our fingers on the brake levers, shivering so hard and the track was wet and slippery. Crazy shit to be there really. Loaded the bikes on and into the car and headed down. Normally you see guys getting a lift to the top so they can ride down. We are tough PFMTB riders. We ride to the top and get a lift down.

Monday 2nd June

Queens Birthday 2008. After a heavy night on Saturday due to the Crusaders fantastic win against the Warratahs we knew that a Sunday ride was not on. Monday being a holiday we decided to go and do the Wharfdale Track near Oxford. We awoke to a bit of rain but decided to go anyway. Rubberjaws, Geez, and Mellonfarmer rode or drove to Fatmans by 8. We loaded the bikes on the ford and headed off to find the Silverfox who was late due to a flat on his way. For Geez and Silverfox this was the first attempt at the Wharfdale and it is one that will go down in PFMTBC folklore. We had a pleasant drive and got onto the shingle road heading to the track. The first ford appeared a bit dirty and a little higher than normal, but in we went and that was the last thought about a ride. The bow wave came over the bonnet, the car stopped and Fatman said F...! We leaped out allowing litres of water to come in and tried to push all to no avail. The water was bloody cold. We stood on the bank looking at the Ford in the Ford. Decided to laugh. What else was there. Mellonfarmer waded in and got his bike off the rack and headed back to the closest farm. Turns out the woman was meant to put the Ford Closed sign up but was running late. Good on her. She pointed Mellonfarmer in the direction of a local farmer to pull us out with his 4wd. In the meantime phone calls had got Twopot to jump in his car. He was gonna give us a tow. 30 minutes later the Ford finally leaves the water. Had to bail it out. Lucky for Debs egg and bacon pie. It gave us a container to bail with. Finally we got the car emptied of most water and turned around ready for Twopot. Even attempted to start it but that was not a happening thing. We decided that Rubberjaws would sit in the car with Fatman on the way home. Twopot arrives and starts the tow back to town, but Fatman decides wet brakes and no power assist is not a good thing and we stopped to chat. Fatman jumps in a tries to start it again. 3 gallons of water flew from the exhaust and the car started. Clouds of steam continued as the exhaust dried out but we decided to drive under our own power. The drive home was wet and we were just a bit worried about all the warning lights but they slowly went out as the car dried a bit. A beer at OSheas and then home. An eventful day.