This is the personal blog of Paul Petch a self professed outdoor addict, reformed graphic designer, picture taker & IT geek living in Christchurch NZ. While you are here why not subscribe to my tweets, Flickr, RSS and Vimeo?


Rapaki track in second ring *thumbs up*

Yesterday my aim was to do some climbing and due to most tracks at Port Hills being closed due to the recent down pours- riding the Rapaki and the Traverse to VIC park a few times looked like the way to go. With the sun shining and brilliant blue skies I sped off with iPod blasting….

With 1,545M elevation gain over 3hrs and 45km- I was very impressed with my progress since arriving here in the Church :) One thing of note is that I could only climb the Rapaki Track in the granny gear until yesterday- and one goal I set my self on arrival in Christchurch was to climb it in the second ring…… which I did TWICE yesterday!

I’m sure the skinnier tyres helped me to keep it in the second ring- and the recent ‘Rock Shox Push Loc’ so I can lock out the Reba’s….. either way though- I’m well chuffed with how much my climbing technique has improved!

I did have one bummer moment yesterday though- I dropped my damn Oakley sunnies and spent 20 odd minutes on the Traverse track going backwards and forwards (as you can see on the GPS) to look for them….. to no avail (fuck it!). Those sunnies were amazing and hold many a memory! RIP Gascans! Now I’m on the market for a new pair….hmmm.

Anyway, here is the Google Earth File.

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Related posts:

  1. Port Hills + Sunshine = :)
  2. The Flying Nun track – Port Hills
  3. The Wharfedale Track – wet n’ wild
  4. The Bowenvale downhill track at Port Hills
  5. Mountain biking at the Wharfedale Track

This entry was posted on Monday, February 18th, 2008 at 7:30 am and is filed under Bike Rides and tagged with , , . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.

2 Responses to “Rapaki track in second ring *thumbs up*”

  1. Rick says:
    June 16, 2009 at 11:47 am

    Hey Paul.
    Which bike were you riding?
    After my first ride up Rapaki, I always made it a goal on my Spec Epic to ride in middle ring (34 tooth, 9 speed), and apart from that very first time, always have.
    I have no chance on the Wolf though, as I have replaced the big ring with a bash guard and replaced the 34 with a 38.
    I did ALMOST make it on my single speed (44:16) but the wind at the very top was just too much.
    Glad to see the site back up and running. I had nothing to read on Monday lunchtime.

    Reply
    • Paul says:
      June 16, 2009 at 1:34 pm

      Ello :) If I remember correctly- it would have been the Trek Fuel EX8…..which at the time I thought was a weighty beast :D

      Like you- I quickly swapped the outer ring for a bashy on the Marin Wolf Ridge- as there is not not much need on that beast. Saying that- at the Hamner 12hr, it would have been great on the gravel 4WD tracks where the weight weenies that I had smoked on the technical single track then over took me! lol. Ahhhh the summer….ahhh Hamner…..ahhhh :D

      I also *nearly* made it on a SS too- 32 x 16 on the Cove I think……but I nearly popped a bollock doing that. So never again :D

      Yeah good to see the site backup….what a right royal pain in the toosh that was! I’ve been a bit slack of late posting too….so maybe it was a sign? :D

      ***edit*** it was the Lynskey lol. What a hero I was climbing on a 10KG hardtail! haha. *shifty eyes*

      Reply

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