Man down! at the Wharfedale Track
I did not get to bed until after midnight so come the early rise I was not feeling to good. Infact- a lazy day under a tree with a book would have been my choice! And with Spencer running characteristically late we did not get going until after 10am. To further aid the poor start [...]
Craigieburn mountain biking with Mark & Ricco!
After a week up North, Richard and Mark went via Wellington to Nelson before arriving late Wednesday in Gotham (Christchurch). I chose a few rides my Aussie guests at Craigieburn and the Wharfedale to show them what the trails in Canterbury are like. If time was on our side I would have loved to have [...]
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 [...]
Lake Taupo. North Island trip. Ride five
Our legs are feeling a tad tender so today’s “recovery” ride was welcomed at Lake Taupo. It was really warm as we got our gear ready and set off, so the challenge today was going to be the heat as much as the aching legs!
The drive took about an hour and was nothing special to [...]
Rotorua. North Island trip. Ride four
We set off at about midday today with a route planned the night before that aimed to take us to the highest point in the park and then down…down..and down :) Needless to say, the climbs were a bit of a grind but nothing like the good old South Island ;). With all of us [...]
Rotorua. North Island trip. Ride three
Another awesome day with more riding in the redwoods this afternoon. We were lucky enough to have Vanina Vergoz & Gavin with us who and were happy to show us their favorite tracks. Mark and Richard bumped into the pair and got chatting while waiting for the wheels to be built at Kiwi Bikes. Small [...]
Rotorua. North Island trip. Ride two
It typical Craig and Paul fashion we got to our accommodation and had a quick feed and were off climbing up to the highest point in the park with 30 mins of our arrival! And boy oh boy it was sticky and humid out there! Unlike most climbs though- the reward was more than I [...]
Woodhill mountain biking. North Island trip. Ride one.
I’m currently in Auckland and staying with my good friend Craig- who I’ve had many an adventure with over the past few years. Last night we met up with some of his mates and went out for food- and rose early this morning for a spin at Woodhill bike park- about 45mins outside of Auckland.
With [...]
An afternoon with the Salsa Fargo
Things have started to mellow somewhat as I taper to the biggest physical challenge of my life on the 5th December in the form of the Kepler Challenge- a 60KM Ultra mountain run. Today I rode the trusty Fargo to Bottlelake Forest for a short run.
Once I was on route- I was enjoying the Fargo [...]
DT Swiss 5.1 & converting to tubeless
It’s close to midnight and it has been one hell of a week. Not content with manic days at work and the Wife being away so I’m fending for myself …….i’ve just managed to at last convert the new set of DT Swiss wheel set to tubeless. It has only taken me several nights of [...]
The Poulter Valley Track – Arthur’s Pass National Park
The Poulter Valley Track is part of Arthur’s Pass National Park, access is via Mt White Road.
Mt White Road traverses along tussock flats bordering the grand Waimakariri River, with wide sweeping views up the valley. Mt White Road turns off from SH 73, about 25 km east of Arthur’s Pass village. After a kilometre the [...]
Mcleans Island 12hr 2009
Take what seems 24+ hrs of solid rain and a team of three to ride for 12hrs and there you have our plan. Brent arrived at 8am and I was still in my dressing gown- while Spencer running more than 30mins late rocks up outside beeping his horn. As you can tell, our hearts were [...]
One of those rides…
The mission was simple. Ride to Godley Head and beat the threat of an incoming cold front and sleet n’ snow. Yeah that’s right- 3rd October and snow. Anyhow- Brent pulled the pin due to being sick so Spencer and I headed upwards and over.
Things were sweet until the much dreaded and sadly anticipated flat [...]
The Wharfedale Track – wet n’ wild
After recruiting a small group of crazies from the Derailed forum we headed out to the infamous Wharfedale Track near Oxford yesterday. After getting lost on route (again :)) Spence and I were on course for lateness as usual but made it in time. We all checked over our gear- threw on knee pads and [...]
Mountain Bike Skills Clinic – Victoria Park
I’ve been keen to attend a MTB skills clinic for sometime and today I took part in the first of a series with Zane as the instructor & a small group of 5 at Victoria Park. After a warm Dyers Pass climb & a good stretch to wake up my legs from yesterdays run, a [...]
2010 Gary Fisher Paragon 29er
I looked at loads of bikes before buying this one, in the end it came down to what I could get now and at a reasonable price. Trek and Fisher seem be very quick with getting their new bikes out to the public this year. I won’t get a chance to properly ride it until [...]
The GT Peace single speed is for sale
It has been fun, but the trusty GT Peace single speed is up for sale. For the first time in many many years I’m literally a two bike kind of guy at the moment. After picking up the Salsa Fargo some months ago to replace the SS commuter- the GT Peace has sat unloved in [...]
Mountain biking weekend. Porthills & Mcleans Island
Well, Spring time has indeed sprung and I met with Brent yesterday to ride Rapaki to Sumner via Captain Thomas and then today Spencer & I headed off for a social ride with a crew from the derailed forum as part of planned monthly ride. What a great weekend to be out on the bike [...]
My playground
Today is the first day of Spring and the weather has been mighty fine for some time now. With a forecast of warm sunny days and cold crisp nights- it is now my fave time of the year here in Christchurch. It won’t be long now before the snow melts and the mountains dry out [...]
Cockpit changes -Thomson Elite X4
I fancied a cockpit change for no other reason than I’m sick of the Syncros stem in white upfront & I miss the sturdy and direct feeling of a Thomson. So here it is a 50mm Thomson Elite courtesy of Trademe. Not bad for $90 & it near mint. Bargain!
Seeing as it has a zero [...]
New stuff- Bell Variant helmet
It’s that time of year when my list of “to do” for the Spring/ Summer season starts to bug me for attention (not that it has to try hard;)) and I look at upgrades, fixes or replacement of gear on my bikes/ wardrobe. At the top is the sorry state that is my Fox Flux [...]
Mcleans Island mountain biking
Spencer and I headed to Mcleans Island yesterday for a few laps and I decided to take the Marin Wolf as I’ve kind of moved away from the single speed over winter. Spencer has been out weekly on his new Kona Unit and I was looking forward to the challenge of keeping up with him! [...]
A sunny afternoon of Mountain Biking in the Port Hills
Amy and I headed into the city for a quick bite to eat and a coffee before I met up with Ben at Worsley’s Road to begin the long climb up the road and then the steep and now technical muddy and slippery Worsley’s Track. The track has huge ruts running all the way up [...]
Nicolai Helius FR…..surprise!
I have been in the process of getting a great riding buddy a Helius FR. KB thought that it’s time to step up to a new steed, and he has been riding a Specialized SX for a couple of years now. So we have been planning for sometime the Helius FR. The frame was ordered [...]
