Back In The Swing

When does normality become the exception? For ages the usual routine was a Night ride mid-week and a Sunday ride. But it's been bloody ages since I have managed to do this with any kind of regularity. Maybe life is regaining some semblance of order cos for the second week running both the night ride and the weekend ride both happened. And conditions for both were absolutely freakin splendid! Midweek and although the temp crept above freezing briefly during the day (putting the ride in jeopardy for a while) by the appointed time the mercury was buried nicely in the "bugger me it's cold" region. Flurry of emails and on arrival at the appointed launch site turns out a couple of Brian's mates are joining us - more the merrier, splendid.

So the roll call for this iteration of the "oh so infrequent of late" night ride was Dave (who road with us once before), Kenny, Todd, Brian, George and DB.

All starts as it should, Small Intestine, Belmont and "up the Purple" (snicker..oh grow up!). Belting along at a fair old clip. At the crossroads we decide that the same route as previous Sunday sounds damn fine - Ridge to White and down the Hike Only section. New guys and old guys vying for bragging rights so the speed down White is higher than usual - not to my taste at all! Over to BC side and it's time to take on Soapstone, trails are very conducive to climbing - hard and no loose surface. Still involves a lot of out of the saddle anaerobic effort but the climb is completed just before my heart explodes. regroup at the top and work out it's a night for climbing! So the aim is down Vineyard, up House of Pain then down Mission Impossible - EPIC!

Vineyard passes in a complete blur - the guys are up for it tonight and it's all I can do to keep in sight of their lights as they hurtle away from me. Fortunately House of Pain is a great leveller - I can push my bike as fast as the next man! Stupid steep at the bottom, fun going down but virtually impossible up, some loose stones make the steep section even tougher as spinning back wheels add to the torture. Second section is almost doable then the upper third, more gentle (but still a heck of a climb) feels like a holiday in comparison to what we have just endured. Regroup again, and hit Superhighway to Mission Impossible, at the junction though there is a change of heart! Instead of Mission Impossible we take the re-routed Patarini Hill to the the top of the Hillside section and then the group splinters, George and I opt for Tunnel Trail (now "officially" closed - sign up and everything) whilst other favor staying on official trails. But you know how it is, within seconds on George and me starting on Tunnel we are joined by Brian and Todd - just couldn't resist this trail. It's been knocked about a fair bit in attempts to close it with a few obstacles being made just about unridable - result is that each of us take one trip over the bars in the first half of the trail. With ice and snow George is only one who takes on the big rocky section and then I opt for discretion and walk a fair bit of the very steep leafy descent. At the road we head to the bridge then take the steep route to the right of the waterfall, Brian absolutely crushes the first (and steepest) portion of the climb and is still cranking away on his Redline SS 29er when he gets to the stoopid rooty section. Gets as close to riding it as anyone I have ever seen. At the top of the hill pause for the (now routine) group photo. Down the rocky stream bed descent and Brian mentions to me that although he has ridden bikes for over 20 years with some guys, and only just over a year with me, that he has seen me fall off my bike more than anyone else he knows - Cheers Brian!

By now legs are fried, lungs are seared and thirsts are well developed. Talks of extra sections are quelled and we take a direct route back to the cars and beers. Fantastic Ride! Longest of recent times and fast ads we have gone for an age. Couple of beers and it's time for bed.

Sunday came and with it a lonely ride for MLW and me! Were suggestions that may be five of us, but with the Bollux-house thermometer reading 17oF when we left I didn't hold out much hope, and so it proved.

MLW was a bit leery both of riding just the two of us and riding in such cold conditions. We took on the "big loop" from Landing - Small Intestine has again been removed and "Not Trespassing" signs erected - so we took the old route up to Belmont Road. Fist 15 min were pretty hard on the hands but once we got some body heat going all were happy. Along Ridge two guys rode on MLW wheel for an age - despite her offering to let them pass. I thought perhaps they were just enjoying the view but the reason became apparent after a brief stop to catch breath at the top of one on the hills, we set off ahead and they just disappeared! So not (as MLW though) so much trying to pass MLW - they were desperately trying to stay on her wheel!

Trail again just perfect, SWMBO was a little bothered by "trails like concrete" descriptions, but by the end she was a convert! Admitted the trails conditions were the most fun she has ever ridden. Some hills climbed that I haven't made in many months and when we got to the waterfall on Cascade it id frozen solid! Photo-opportunity or what?! Bikes are discarded on the trail and we scrabble down to stand on the petrified splash pool and get a picture right in front of the falls - magical.

Quick sprint up Cascade back to the car and the big loop has been done faster than ever before on a Sunday - we the team!

Enjoy the cold while we can - summer soon.

DB