Re: cycling

  • 1st proper ride since Xmas eve-eve; and a reckless driver

    —

    in ,

    Great wee ride across Highbury Fling, up Windmill, and accidentally down Car Parts. Really good fun. Had a run in with a very poor and dangerous driver, who explained during the subsequent altercation that he had “honked politely” to tell me to get out of his way. Top bloke.

  • Ikigai * 3

    —

    in

    Last week I did the Ikigai morning commute three times. It was fantastic and I noticed improvement. It was hard going though, as coming back up in the afternoons meant by the weekend my legs were shot. But it was five consecutive days riding over some decent terrain, and up to an hour and forty five minutes on some days, so I was pretty happy with the effort.

  • A two ride day

    —

    in

    I used the morning commute to tackle Ikigai, and it was wonderful. It is a fun ride and while sections are challenging for me, I take it nice and easy (as much as circumstances allow). It was about 45 minute ride to work, and about an hour on the way home.

    The way home involved Clinical and Highbury Fling. I was really stoked at getting up Clinical without the usual issue I have at the quad switchback, and it was more or less easy riding from there. The new flyover was open on the Highbury Fling, and it is very nice.

  • Low trails Makara Peak

    —

    in

    It was great to be back within a week. I rode the Koru + Lazy Fern combo twice as I didn’t have a great deal of time. It was fantastic, and while I can reasonably confidently get around the flat switchbacks on Lazy Fern one in particular still feels borderline.

    But it was pretty fun and nice to go down Lazy Fern again for the first time in a while.

  • Transient corners

    —

    in

    A note on my nemesis corner. I have made it around once on the first attempt, and now retry the corner if I fail to get around it, but it is getting better. I still can’t figure out why it is so difficult. But anyhoo, it’s progress.

  • Makara Peak

    —

    in

    Lovely ride up and down Makara Peak with Julian. It had been over three weeks and was great to be back. We took the climb in a fairly leisurely way. Coming down was good fun, parts of Peak Flow felt fantastic and fun. I also managed to get around one of the gnarlier corners on Smokin’.

  • Transient progress

    —

    in

    I rode Transient again today after a hiatus of over three weeks. I managed all the switchbacks bar a silly mistake on one, but most importantly I made it around the nemesis corner (on the second attempt). And it was SO EASY, I have no idea why it was such a big deal in my mind.

    I also made it up without stopping.

    Unfortunately the track has changed and a favourite challenging switchback has been removed. It looks fairly permanent too, and has so far been replaced with a fairly pedestrian stretch. Certainly much less physically taxing too. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I do miss the old corner.

    It did serve as a reminder that when you’re stuck, a break is best.

    It was also quite liberating not feeling tied to the segments and overall ride times by Strava. I have no idea how fast I was and I don’t care.

  • Clinical improvements

    —

    in

    Since the trip, I have noticed a few improvements on Clinical.

    1. coping with almost all the switchbacks, and I nearly got up the trifecta on Wednesday.
    2. I have managed to ride up the steep pinch climb at the end of the track once, and was stopped by the tree the second time.
    3. I have done it without stopping for rest both times, and the first time I only had a micropause before going onto the Highbury Fling.

  • How I packed for bikepacking the Heaphy Track

    —

    in

    So I can remember for next time.

    Backpack

    7kg in total according to the scales at the airport. I could not really feel this on my back while wearing it.

    • Main compartment:
      • Bottom, in big pack liner: sleep system, and dry clothes (puffer jacket and sleep thermals) in a sea to summit dry bag, toiletries, and headlamp and power bank, sleeping mat
    • Top inner pocket: more snacks
    • Top outer pocket: phone, loo paper, baggie with hand sanitiser, deet, sunscreen, etc, the things I might have needed to grab in a hurry.
    • Vertical side pocket: Tent poles, tent pegs, trowel
    • Hip-strap pocket: snacks
    • Outer pocket: spare inner tube
    • Outer storage area: water bladder

    Saddle bag

    Food: all freeze dried and sealed, it got a little wet but was fine.

    Handlebar bag

    I ended up putting the tent and tent fly in here (about 1.5kg), my tools, another spare inner tube, and my wet weather gear – my jacket and Helter Skelter over trousers. As I wore the wet weather gear from much of the ride it made the handlebar bag a little lighter.

  • Changes

    —

    in

    Having completed the not so big “big ride”, I am going to change my approach a little.

    1. I uninstalled Strava. I was too hung up on times and I think it was detracting from my enjoyment. It certainly served a purpose in helping motivate me and get me riding.
    2. I will not update this blog for my regular commute, but I will update it for lessons learned or out of the ordinary rides, such as new tracks or leaps forward.