Re: cycling

  • A wee tumble

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    After a day of fasting I rode home up Transient, and on a fairly flat and straight bit of trail managed to go off the edge – it was very embarrassing. I have a few small bruises and scratches and was very lucky.

    It is a lesson in the importance of concerntration.

  • 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.

  • 4 days in a row

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    Haven’t done that for a while, so kinda pleased. The old knees are a bit sore though, Polhill’s climb takes a toll.

  • Makara peak, not as good as last week

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    Good, but not great. My energy was low and fatigue was causing some issues. It was ok, and the achievement was really in being there while it was so busy.

    But, an ok ride and I’m also pleased to be sticking with it.

  • Pedals

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    So after rebuilding the pedal, the damn thing came off while I was riding along Lambton Quay. I was quite lucky there was little traffic around.

    Once home I recleaned and then regressed it again, but I will be paranoid for a while, although it seems to be much better than it was.

  • 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.

  • Baring Head

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    Today was another day off work so I rode back out to Baring Head, as my knees are quite sore and I wanted a fairly long but flat ride.

    Highlights included:

    • scoring a free, but slight worse for wear, kids bike on the way to the ride;
    • feeling pretty solid throughout the ride, in the past I have felt fatigued even on the first leg;
    • the sky and yellow grass at Baring Head were stunning;
    • the cliffs are also stunning;
    • the old WW2 observation bunkers were a cool detour;
    • I returned from the head to the carpark in less than 35 minutes which I was pretty stoked about. It would have taken about an hour to get out there, but I did stop a few times to take pictures and explore.
    “The Thing” at Pencarrow Head. What is this?
    Baring Head WW2 observation bunker.
    Baring Head.
    Baring Head Lighthouse.

  • Makara Peak

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    I had a day off work and made the most of it with a fantastic ride up the peak today. I figure I made it to the top in less than an hour, perhaps even 45 minutes or so, I was taking it reasonably easy through some sections.

    The ride down was fantastic also – there is a section of Peak Flow that is immensely enjoyable. Smokin’ and Three Brothers also felt the best they ever have.

    The regular commuting up through Polhill Reserve is paying off in terms of uphill fitness, although I do want to do a lot more downhill.