Tuesday 5th April

Was wet all day, nearly all tracks closed and even McLeans would of been pretty soggy so a Road ride was called. I had Bugs, Silverfox, Big Tex, and the Cook arrive and we headed off to Mellonfarmers where we were joined by Tinkerbell and Dozer. We oohed and aahed about Mellon's new road rider and then headed along river road. Our streets of Christchurch are just so broken arsed. It does not show on any news broadcast how bad it is out there. I was riding on the right hand side of the road and the left hand side was at shoulder height. Sewer pumps everywhere with broken and empty homes. As we road down Locksley Ave I counted only 2 inhabited homes out of over 60. The new pathway is a stop bank as the river either is higher or the banks are so much lower. The stench of the river was bad. As we neared the Avondale bridge the tar sealed track was so broken and in some stages it was only the seal left with no earth underneath. Back around Avonside Drive with the same problems. Huge rents in the earth, new and raised stop banks. At the eastern side of Kerr's Reach we saw a house that was on an angle. The structure looked fine but one side of the house was off the ground by a good metre. We continued and as we got further the track were crossed by huge wheel eating cracks. The Cook got a snake bite in one of them. We ended at Pomeroys for a round of drinks before heading home. I can not say the ride was nice because it quite a sight out there.

Sunday 3rd April.

1st ride under Standard Time and lets think who got up early, Tinkerbell and Sandals. N E way. Tinks, Dozer, Phatboy, Silvefox and te Rex met at mine and we headed round and started up Gruntsbuury. Just after the closed section Mellonfarmer finally arrived and at good pace we headed up. it was quite warm and we stopped for a blow at the Aotea bend. Up we went, grinding ever upward, me still not on top of things and finding it a shitter climbing. carried on to off road and continued up. Hooked up with Sandals and Helmut at the top before a brilliant blast around the traverse. Into Thompsons where I went into the 1st hairpin so fast I lost it and had to dab. Funny it was and had to move over so others could pass. Silverfox peeled off at Kiwi while the rest of us headed up to the top of the Nun. Had a wee stop before heading down, MF and Hel going all the way together while the rest stopped at the Carpark and headed back to the top slowly to allow the other 2 to catch. I am sure they went really fast cos they did. Done the Worsley B line. it was fun with good techy lines. Stopping halfway for a good look over the plains. Carried on down and somehow we lost Te Rex. Finally found him and then we carried on down. Nice run down the singletrack beside the road. Then home. Stopped and waited for Sandals and Helmut so we could say Bye but they shot off in a different direction. Great ride.

Tuesday 29th March

A quick ride before attending the trip meeting. Mellonfarmer, Abba, Sandals, Te Rex and Silverfox arrived at mine and we headed up Huntsbury slowly. Amazing damage was seen as we climbed. Phatboy caught us near the top of Aotea Tce. We continued the grind up the hill. I am just so out of sorts climbing at present which annoys me. Up up up. At the top the boys tried some sheep herding. We whizzed around the Summit trail as the light grew dim. Dropped into Vic pines which were dark and no visability, down the Rock garden then on down the road to Sandals. Hooked up with Thumbhook(Buggs), Tinkerbell, Dozer and The Queenstown Goat. Discussed the trip. We are going to go to the coast this year. 5 nights. Time to organise accommodation.

Sunday 27th March

Woke up to a light shower and considered calling it off, but I thought it would be OK. Phatboy, Mellonfarmer, Tinkerbell, Dozer and the Silverfox all arrived. We hummed and haaed about what to do and settled on our plan to head up towards Greenwood. Around the river we went where it got pretty interesting as the bank started to break up a bit. Added to the fun as we rode over some deep renders in the bank. Started up Mt Pleasant after removing jackets and me cursing my knew pack which had a problem. Grind Grind we went as we looked at some of the broken homes. Carried on up and then I hit the wall at the 2/3rd mark. Just felt stuffed. must of been the late night before. Tinks stayed with me as we rode into thickening cloud. At the regroup (top of the road) we all thought that the rocks were gonna be interesting and sketchy. We were right. The first part had lots of slip and I dabbed a few times. Glasses steamed up which did not help. At the ruins we sorted out an order and headed down. Track was in great condition and the rocks were sharper and less slippery. Only one wee boulder on the track in Gloomy Gulch. Stopped and chatted with Nick and track builders. Felt guilty for not joining in. Continued on down past another group and out onto Evans Pass. Good blast down the road into Sumner. Looked at the bottom of Marleys from the road and some big broken trees and boulders where we would normally ride. Coffee at Dot Com. Bugs joined us and showed the pin they removed from his thumb last week. We then blasted home along the causeway and then back along the bank for fun. Good ride all in all.

Tuesday 24th March

Tracks at avoid yet again. Driving me crazy. Phatboy, Dozer, Abba and The Cook (on a new bike and out for the first time ever with us) arrived at mine. We rode over to Silverfoxes, looked at his crack again...(he told us EQC is going to fill it for him, and hes looking forward to it.) It goes right around the house and even the windows have cracks around them. Sandals and Jandals arrived. We then headed via different streets to Hagely. Did a circuit of Sth Hagley, then crossed over and did Nth Hagley. Went and had a look at Arts Ctr, then St Elmos Court then rode by odd means around the edge of the cordon. We ended up having to ride part of Hagley Park back to Bealey Ave. Rode along the medium strip to Manchester St, then Salisbury then around the river to Fitzgerald and then to Pomeroys. Nice drink before we all split at differing times.

Tuesday 15th March

Mellonfarmer arrived and we headed around to pick up Silverfox. Stopped and oohed and aahed over his crack...s in his house. Pretty Big but house seems to look somewhat straight. Mellonfarmer and I thought that the timber framing was solid even if the blocks weren't. We all then headed up Hackthorne, and Dyers to the Sign of the Kiwi where we were met by Dozer. Cold wind blowing and rain threatening as we headed up the road. Helmut was at the Marley's car park and we all continued the amble up the road catching Jandals then hooking up with Sandals at the top. Helmut led off followed by Mellonfarmer then me then the others. Helmut pulled over along the way so passed him. Had a good run down to the car park where we all regrouped. Jandals headed down and we all headed up for another run. Same order coming down but I think I rode it better this time. Mellonfarmer and Helmut had pulled up at the car park but I continued down towards Kiwi. They dropped in and gave chase catching me at the long brake less stretch. I got all the little jumps along the edge. Felt pretty good but can do better yet me feels. We regrouped and as I wanted an early finish and the weather was cold we all headed off. Sandals, Helmut and Mellonfarmer heading towards Vic to get down into Cashmere. Short but good ride.

Sunday 13th March

Yes a ride. Tinkerbell and Dozer met at mine and we headed through the broken arsed streets to Sandals. Interesting ride. Hooked up with Sandals, Jandals (Ben), Helmut and Silverfox. Rode the steep drive behind the house then up into Vic Park where Tinks and Helmut got told off by rangers for riding on a walking track. Oh so naughty!!!! Then up the steep track behind the skidder site then cut across and went up the rock garden. That was nutty. Up the uphill track to the summit and then down Thompsons. Feeling good. Up the road to the top of Marleys where we let it roll. Awesome to ride again. Nothing like attacking rock jumps, twists and turns to make you feel normal again. Then back up to the top of Worsley where we rode on down. I took some good techy lines staying in ruts and generally attacking the track. Of course I did not watch where the others were riding but they were enjoying the track too. Down down down and then out. Rode to the old Coffee Culture for coffee before heading home. Felt good and normal.