Re: cycling

Category: Ride

  • Seven

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    Seven incredible days of riding in a row.

    Today was amazing. A two hour cruise around Upper Waimapihi, taking in Highbury Fling, Fenceline to beyond the wind turbine, then back to the turbine and down Carparts, then Rollercoaster, then back along Highbury Fling. The conditions were pretty good, slightly chilly, but ideal for riding.

    Fenceline was tough, and on the section between Sawmill and the turbine I think I stopped on all three of the steep bits. I will have another crack tomorrow if things pan out.

    Carparts was freaky as it’s been a while since I’ve been down it. I was not exactly feeling the stoke. I survived it, and it should be a lot more enjoyable. I need to ride it a lot more.

    It was only my second time down Rollercoaster and it was fun. I chickened out and walked one steep section, but as I got used to it I had a lot of fun on it.

    I did notice the way back along Highbury Fling that I had a lot more energy than usual, so I think the tough uphill climbs are paying off.

    Friday was a 90 minute ride, and slightly disappointing. I had hoped to ride Lower George Denton (aka Squatters) but it was closed, apparently due to damage from recent heavy rain. I then chugged back up the hill and up to Fenceline up to Ikigai. Going up was OK – although it was quite hot – but the first part of Ikigai was a shemozzle. I had involuntary dismounts on the four more interesting corners, which I think threw my confidence.

    The lower part of Ikigai was as much fun as ever. The ride up Transient was tough, I think being the second climb I was just a bit knackered.

    Thursday was largely uneventful, but very enjoyable. If I recall correctly it was a little cooler and helped control fatigue. It was my usual lunchtime ride of Highbury Fling – Fenceline – Sawmill. It has been amazing making the time to get out at lunchtime.

  • 4 on the trot

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    I have been forcing myself to make time to ride everyday this week and it has been wonderful, and the weather has been perfect too.

    Sunday was at Makara, I worked on my corners and basically just had a low impact nice time.

    The last three days have been quick lunchtime rides across Highbury Fling and up the Fenceline next to Rollercoaster. It’s been tough but getting easier as I work on my technique.

  • 3

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    Three days in a row riding, which is terrible, but in context is amazing as I have ridden so little recently. I know that prior to this I rode on 20 Jan, and I am pretty sure I rode after that. But anyhoo, here is a summary.

    Today: back to Makara. Lower stuff due to lack of time, a couple of laps up the hill and then down SWIGG, lots and lots of fun. Actually really good fun, Makara really is an incredible place to ride.

    Yesterday: Waimapihi, “lower” Ikigai, and and back up Transient. Nice ride, lovely conditions, I still felt RUSTY.

    The day before yesterday: Waimapihi, Upper (i.e. Spuds) and Lower Ikigai. Tough ride. I liked it, but I felt so sluggish, unfit, etc.

    The big change is nutrition. I’m doing a home brew electrolyte drink of salt and water (big difference); and taking shitty environmentally awful energy sachets with me. It makes so much difference. I do want to make my own and use reusable sachets to reduce the plastic and cost of these, but they have certainly changed how I ride.

    During maintenance to sort out my derailleur issues, which I think I resolved, I realised my rear wheel kept coming out of the dropout. I noticed this up at Makara and reset it, but it popped out when I picked up and moved the bike – really concerning. It was loose again by the time I got home.

    The rear rim is a bit stuffed too, so I need to keep an eye on sealant levels and top it up again. I need to get the tyre off and attempt to get the dents out of the rim, but to be honest I am too concerned about trying to reseat the tyre.

    Makara Peak in the distance. A lovely ride.
    This is one of the most beautiful parts of the park. While many folks stop here when they are beginners so they can catch their breath, fitter and more experienced riders breeze through here without realising how beautiful it is.

  • Fenceline et al.; Nutrition.

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    Today was Fenceline to about halfway to Wright’s Hill, followed by the big bully: Car Parts, followed by Spuds (Upper Ikigai), then Ikigai, and finally Transient back up.

    Car Parts gives me the shits. It is only a grade 3 but it is tough. I do like it though. But yeah, I find it hard going. I definitely need to practice more.

    Fenceline was good training. It gets very steep in a few places and I involuntarily dismounted a few times to walk to where I could ride again. I can’t wait to get back to it.

    Ikigai felt GREAT. It flowed more for me than it has for ages, despite the corners I can’t do.

    As it turns out, I probably had a bung rear tyre which would have made things a little harder. The valve probably got bent when I tried to inflate the tyre near the top of Transient.

    The big change in riding this time was nutrition: I had a gel thing that appeared to completely give me more energy – especially on the way down where I needed it most.

    Great fun.

  • Upper Ikigai

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    The rear brake pads were pretty close to shot so I did a quick change and general clean up while the rear wheel was off. I need to sort out the bottom bracket at some point.

    This week I commuted a couple of times and things were generally feeling better.

    I was a little apprehensive about hitting Ikigai on the Roscoe after the experience on the Pivot the previous weekend.

    It was the first time riding from the end of Highbury Fling up to top of upper Ikigai, and it was a tough one.

    The ride down was amazing, and fun, although my quads were burning for much of it. I had started at upper Ikigai which I’d never ridden before, and the geometry of the Roscoe felt unfamiliar after the Firebird. I remembered I needed to be further back and working harder than the previous weekend, and the first decent bump my tail was airborne. No harm done, but I was a little lucky.

    Ikigai has three tough right handers. I want to get good at them.

    The strange thing was the ride back up Transient was amazing – almost easy. I couldn’t understand why it felt so much easier than usual.

  • Barking Emu is a tough guy

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    I finally got to ride Carparts extension and Barking Emu. It was a beautiful morning and pretty much perfect riding conditions, although a very challenging ride given how out of practice I am, having ridden only a few times in the last month.

    The climb is a little like Sally Alley/Upswing to Makara Peak, but not maintained to the same level. This made for a more challenging climb for sure, and I did have to walk in quite a few places. I also had quite a few dismounts, two of them notable: one off the side of the track which was pretty freaky; and the other I didn’t even consider at the time but which has left my knee in considerable discomfort since (edit: going on nine days now). Once we’re out of lockdown I may need to get it looked at.

    Compounding this I had forgotten my knee and shin pads. Big mistake, especially on a track I’ve never ridden before and one that I suspected would be challenging.

    It is a cool ride and I would like to ride it more frequently, although I need to work on my climbing fitness – I was increasingly making mistakes the further I rode due to fatigue. Once I am back in form I’d like to ride this all the way to Red Rocks.

    It also has piqued my interest in attempting to ride the Tip Track, although that is going to require a little more training.

  • The last few weeks

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    I’ve been commuting 3 or 4 days of the last couple of weeks, and a couple of times I’ve been able to get Ikigai into the mix in the afternoon. I haven’t ridden the last two weekends, but given how sore my knees have been that’s probably a good thing.

  • Polhill loop

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    Did the Transient/Ikigai loop a couple of times; almost three, fantastic fun.

  • Best ride ever

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    I had a wonderful day at Makara Peak, starting with a run up and down the green runs, Koru and Lazy Fern.

    Back in the carpark I’d intended to take a Pivot bike for a test ride, but alas, my model had not arrived. I decided to make the most of it and go up again. I went up to the top, and it was muggy and so a sweaty struggle up, but well worth it.

    The ride down Peak Flow was superb, for the first time it really clicked, all the switchbacks felt great and my confidence was much higher than ever. I put it down to the warm up ride down initially.

    When I got home I finally got around to trying to sort my right hand pedal – I managed to get it apart, and realise that the bearings are probably stuffed. I sorted disassembled, cleaned it, and regreased it. There is a lot of horizontal play in the pedal since I loosened the nut, but we’ll see how it goes.

    In the process realised I had some tools that were perfect for working on the bikes.

  • Colonial Knob

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    Wow what amazing trails.

    The ride up is long, perhaps 45 minutes, but it passes through some remarkable bush, and is a fairly gentle gradient.

    The ride down contains some incredible grade 3 trails, and I even attempted a grade 4 for the first time. It involved some walking but was amazing.

    I am excited to return as soon as possible.