Paul Petch

Rotorua. North Island trip. Ride six!

The day before I left for Auckland (3rd) I rode the Port Hills and felt terrible. It was 27 degs and I wanted to vomit climbing up the Rapaki Track. Just three weeks earlier I had run my first Ultra Marathon and it was like my body and mind had forgotten just how grueling it was slogging a 16KG trail bike around on dirt!

Then just a few days later a solid 6 days of mountain biking followed! Luckily for me, my legs had not forgotten how to ride a bike that easily! I’ve ridden hard in the past, but this trip was mental and every day I climbed like a goat and then descended with everything I had on the limits of my skills. Never before have I been in “the zone” for so many days on a bike…..and it was a magic experience. Friends, trails, bikes, sun, and adrenaline…….it was a classic!

Anyway, the final North Island ride of the holiday :) We were feeling pretty toasted to be honest and no matter how much stretching and small talk we made while getting stuff ready for the day it was obvious that a few of us were going to suffer today! Our “mini” plan was to ride the remaining trails on the map which included Hot X bun, T- bone and Rock Drop to name a few. If we could shuttle up we would…..so we cycled to the visitors carpark and hit the trails. We climbed for sometime before deciding that we had best just get to the “main” shuttle that left at 1pm.

We went via Rock Drop which is graded as a 5- and aside from a few dry sketchy and step drop offs/ drop ins- it was not that bad. Infact, with the amount of pedaling up steep chutes and soft pine forest- I’d imagine a full on downhill bike would be a nightmare on this track. Rotorua is 100% big trail bike friendly!

By the time we got to the shuttle- we had time for lunch and coffee before realising that we had missed it! We should have been right outside where the road meets this carpark. Doh. So with that we set off again along the road to then climb up to meet the other shuttle service that runs every 15 minutes! Mark was itching for a climb, but the rest of us were happy to not only take a break but keen to experience a ‘shuttle run”. The first shuttle was full….so we waited and chatted with a long line of waiting bikers. Once the shuttle arrived we threw on our rides and within a few minutes it was also full so the shuttle took off. I chuckled when I put my bike in the rack- as the Rubber Queen tyres did not fit to well and had to be forced in! These things are beefy!

Everyone was spat out at the National Downhill start where we headed further up the steep pitch and a highly recommended track called (I’ll remember later……lol) It had taken me a while to wake up but this trail was just what the Doctor ordered…and I was brake free and nailing every drop and rooty turn. WOW. Another gem of a track. From here we then headed up to Split Enz where we bumped back into Vanina and Gavin who then attempted to stay on my wheel through this gem of a track to the Roller coaster clearing. I was totally nailing everything and flying through this track and just left everyone for dust. Man I love the Marin Wolf! At the clearing I was slightly embarrassed as Vanina and Gavin both complimented me on my riding, line choices (which were not what they thought were ridable) and my overall pace on a 16KG bike. I suppose it was a compliment…and Ill take it! Haha!

Unfortunately, Craig who had clearly been pushing his limits beyond what he could give while chasing us all, and slammed into a tree on the Split Enz track hurting his shoulder. He bailed at this point and headed home. He has a bit of bruising- and with some harden up pills- he will be just fine :) After the Roller Coaster track the three amigos headed upwards to go ride the last trail on out list- Hot X Bun.

The climb up to Hot X Bun was steep, rocky, loose and HOT. With 200M of elevation it was also a ball breaker- but an awesome “last Rotovegas” climb. Infact, we agreed that it was the best climb of the week! With toliet breaks and mucking about with cameras we then headed through the over grown track that had some climbs and small sandy downs. Two local guys were in a small clearing and offered to guide us down as at one point it gets a bit “tricky” and we would not know this unless we “knew”….if you get my drift :) So we followed then down and boy oh boy what a gem! Sandy, dry, rooty and steep….followed by a steep pitch and then bam! Steeeeeep! Sandy and rooty. Lovely! We then hit a fork that went right or straight. The local guys were pointing to the right side which was a safer option so I commented “what’s the worst that could happen” and then launched down the sandy chute! And it was mental! Steep and rooooooty with some great launch spots then tight switch backs with more steep rooty business. I could hear Richard behind me “woo-hooing!” as we flew down this section and it was another Rotovegas moment for sure. I have goose bumps just writing about it! The locals closely followed us and then Mark kind of popped out with a story to tell. He had followed us and launched off a section to land front wheel heavy…..and nearly went over the bars. Thankfully the side bushes took his fall and nothing was broken! Phew.

From here we headed down “would be rude not too” and “Exit trail” then out for a road blat back home. By the end of the Exit trail I could hardly pump the front of the bike and it was clear that we were all KNACKERED! With smiles all around and speechless glares at how wonderful the weeks of riding had been we took photos and a lazy route home to inhale carbs, protein shakes and anything else that was in our way! With Italian and a few beers that night, we toasted to an epic week of riding in the best spot that all of us have ever ridden. This place is FUN and as flat out or casual as you make it. We have already made plans to return in Easter…..put it that way!

As for the Marin, I’ve managed to loosen the rear triangle bearings so they are toast nd of course the PIKES need fixing up too. I’m hoping that some lock tite will get me thought until the fellas head back and then I’ll look into a full service and some TLC. It did feel a bit “loose” on the rear during the week and now I know why. Lesson learnt…..CHECK rear of bike before throwing yourself up and down a mountain for a week :D !!

Meanwhile Richard and Mark have headed to Wellington for some respite and then hit Nelson for some riding. I’ve tried to tee up a mate who will be in the area during their brief visit so they hope to go for a ride or two. They then arrive in Christchurch on the 6th before we are off again to ride some of my local trails. Shuttle the Port Hills, Craigieburn and the Wharfedale. Nice!

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Related posts:

1. Rotorua. North Island trip. Ride four
2. Rotorua. North Island trip. Ride three
3. Rotorua. North Island trip. Ride two
4. Lake Taupo. North Island trip. Ride five
5. Woodhill mountain biking. North Island trip. Ride one.

This entry was posted on Monday, January 4th, 2010 at 8:23 am and is filed under Bike Rides and tagged with craig, mark, North Island, richard, rotorua, rotovegas. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.