The post-Christmas, seven-tenths, reacquaintance ride
Discussion
After a week or so of stuffing my face, drinking too much, looking after a very pregnant wife and a one-year-old, and getting a cold (man flu!) I got a chance to get back on the bike. Not the best of time/day to do this – 30C, high humidity and bright sunshine, heading towards the middle of the day, so only getting hotter. But not a chance to be missed, so off to the local trail, here
Usually with the amount of time I had, two laps would be in order, but today is just too hot. Slow start, passing few other bikes on what is usually a busy track, which makes me think the time of day is perhaps not quite right, but so what? Just getting into a groove, finding new lines with a slower pace, a couple of gears lower than usual, concentrating on the trail, climbing hurts. Take another sip from the Camelbak, flick the bike onto the singletrack and go!
Branches brushing and scratching my face and arms, keeping a tight grip on the bars so they don’t get dragged into the bushes, duck below the low leaves, bounce down the first drop-off, line up the next, pedal hard, along the boards and into the clear. Now up the steps – three rises that combine to make a small obstacle that takes a bit of practice – easy done today. Another short climb, one more small drop-off, then the rock garden and the downhill.
Feeling a bit warm, and slightly puffed at the halfway mark means this is a tough day, keep it to seven-tenths… Start the downhill, and, well, bugger the seven-tenths. Balls out, all the way. Woo, and indeed, hoo! There go the excesses of the past week or so.
Short sharp lung buster nearly gets me, and then it’s the homeward stretch. This is the fastest, most flowing part of the course for me. Mostly smooth singletrack with small drops all the ways to the bottom. And no other bikes in the way today. Take it as fast as possible, all the concentration returning, and finally feeling like it’s a good day for a ride. Bring on tomorrow.
Usually with the amount of time I had, two laps would be in order, but today is just too hot. Slow start, passing few other bikes on what is usually a busy track, which makes me think the time of day is perhaps not quite right, but so what? Just getting into a groove, finding new lines with a slower pace, a couple of gears lower than usual, concentrating on the trail, climbing hurts. Take another sip from the Camelbak, flick the bike onto the singletrack and go!
Branches brushing and scratching my face and arms, keeping a tight grip on the bars so they don’t get dragged into the bushes, duck below the low leaves, bounce down the first drop-off, line up the next, pedal hard, along the boards and into the clear. Now up the steps – three rises that combine to make a small obstacle that takes a bit of practice – easy done today. Another short climb, one more small drop-off, then the rock garden and the downhill.
Feeling a bit warm, and slightly puffed at the halfway mark means this is a tough day, keep it to seven-tenths… Start the downhill, and, well, bugger the seven-tenths. Balls out, all the way. Woo, and indeed, hoo! There go the excesses of the past week or so.
Short sharp lung buster nearly gets me, and then it’s the homeward stretch. This is the fastest, most flowing part of the course for me. Mostly smooth singletrack with small drops all the ways to the bottom. And no other bikes in the way today. Take it as fast as possible, all the concentration returning, and finally feeling like it’s a good day for a ride. Bring on tomorrow.
Cool write up.
Went out for my first post-xmas head-clear yesterday at Cwmcarn, getting too warm wasn't a major concern, ha ha. It was 2c in the carpark, lord only knows what it was at the top on the freeride, but had to be in the minuses.
Went with a great mate of mine who rides regually but family committments mean he doesn't get out of much as me and a guy who's brand new to it on a ratty old Cannondale hardtail.
Once we warmed up it was pretty ace, groud was frozen hard-ish, and incredibly grippy, but if you even slighly went off trail it was ice, made for some interesting riding.
Got to use my new GPS Nokia Sports Tracker (free for all Nokia Smart Phones with GPS) even with a total noob and the dire temps were got around in 2:20 taking it very easy, and hit 33.9KPH on the last section again, not giving it 11.
Went out for my first post-xmas head-clear yesterday at Cwmcarn, getting too warm wasn't a major concern, ha ha. It was 2c in the carpark, lord only knows what it was at the top on the freeride, but had to be in the minuses.
Went with a great mate of mine who rides regually but family committments mean he doesn't get out of much as me and a guy who's brand new to it on a ratty old Cannondale hardtail.
Once we warmed up it was pretty ace, groud was frozen hard-ish, and incredibly grippy, but if you even slighly went off trail it was ice, made for some interesting riding.
Got to use my new GPS Nokia Sports Tracker (free for all Nokia Smart Phones with GPS) even with a total noob and the dire temps were got around in 2:20 taking it very easy, and hit 33.9KPH on the last section again, not giving it 11.
Mandog said:
Cool write up. That place sounds the nuts. Any videos?
Its a great trail on which to learn a lot of skills - mix of singletrack, doubletrack, firetrail, uphill, downhill, small drops, bigger drops and steps. Also, fantastic views of the ocean and local bushland too! Had a look on You Tube - not much to be found - this one shows some but its not the greatest
This one here has some footage of the last bit of downhill trail from about 1:20 but there's little to be seen of the total track.
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