Category: Ride

I was very very fortunate to be able to go into work a little later this morning, and ride Ikigai for the first time. It was raining lightly, but enough to put anyone else off, so I thankfully had the trail to myself.

It was freaky as hell in places, and extremely enjoyable in others. I took it very very slowly, and even then had a close call due to a moment’s inattention that had me stopping with the front tyre off the edge of the track.

It was followed by a wet but awesome ride back up the hill.

Very pleased!

Same issues as yesterday. But enjoying the progress and proud that I am keeping at it.

I am consistently riding home via Polhill. I am having major issues with left hand switch-backs, and this is extremely frustrating, to the point I am now over thinking them.

A best time on Transient. And a super fast ride to work.

Such a fantastic ride (as I recall). Lots of improvement from my previous attempt. I met some chaps on the way down who almost didn’t believe it was only the second time I had ridden Peak Flow – they seemed very pleased for me.

It felt great to be riding uphill for the best part of an hour and feel reasonably good at the top.

I was so pleased to make it to the top of Makara Peak today. And overall, it was pretty good on the way up, almost comfortable.

Sally Ally had some tough stuff that caused me to stop a few times, but I’m so keen to get back to that and see if I can get better at it.

After that, the ride up was great.

Peak Flow was a new experience, and one I’m excited about as me strength and fitness increase.

On either Smokin or Three Brothers I came a cropper on one quite rocky switchback, but overall it was an enjoyable ride down for something so unfamiliar. Quite hard on the legs, but good.

Today’s morning zip to work was lovely and quiet.

The ride up the hill was OK, not great. I struggled in all the places I have started struggling in (although I did get around a few of my cursed left handers), but it is all good learning and training.

It was much better today, I apparently made it up the hill in 32 minutes if Strava is to be trusted, which is 7 or 8 minutes quicker than usual. I did make a big effort to keep riding and take short breaks, and I think that made the difference to the Strava time,

My time was a couple of minutes slower today as my bag was loaded up with a couple of purchases, a tent and a sleeping mat. It was tough going in places, but what I found interesting was that I did not feel the pack on me at all, despite the extra weight. When I got home I lifted the bag and realised how comparatively weighty it was. It felt like a good test though.

It was great to be back, I was surprised to see it had been a month since I’d been there.

My intention was to go to the top, but I arrived much later than I had planned. The carpark was pretty full, but in the way up I encountered no one. I did a loop of Magic Carpet which I found fairly dull this time, although it took me over 9 minutes versus the usual 6 minutes.

I went down Lazy Fern, which was nice enough, although having not ridden downhill much for a few weeks my legs were feeling it.

I came back up, and in the way to Big Tom’s Wheelie, I stopped to check the map. I figured I’d ridden far enough that I should have just gone to the top. I am intending to get there earlier next time to allow time to get to the top.

I went down SWIGG and it was great, I realised how much I’d learnt since my last attempt. Last time it was thrilling, but I was barely in control, and I was forced to stop many times. This time, I stopped only once, and while I was slow, I felt far more in control.