VegasSS

I like it, like it, yes I do!  It had been far too long since my tyres had shralved volcanic earth in Vegas.  An invitation from Megan to join her and a colleague Vicki for some shuttles was too good to miss.

After a little sifty ride at Pukete on Monday, I was looking forward to getting in some quality riding in Rotorua.  The only problem was that my bike needed a bit of work done first.  My rear brake wasn't working properly and felt quite soft when I squeezed the lever.  Suspecting air in the line, and without enough time to book it in for a re-bleed, I adjusted the lever reach and pad contact to allow me to brake without the lever almost touching the bar.  I didn't bother test riding the bike, just squeezed the lever in the workshop.  That'll do.

The rear hub had developed some play in the cones again, so I popped down to Velo Espresso to borrow some cone spanners and tighten it up.  With the wheel out and on the bench it was obvious that the rear brake wasn't going to work - there was mineral oil everywhere!  All over the disc rotor and the centrelock lock-ring.  Hang on... oh dear.  The brake caliper was dry.  So where was the oil from??  My internally geared (and oil lubricated) hub had leaked.  A quick call to Sheppards and it was suspected that the hub could have been overfilled when they inspsected it 3 months earlier.  So, Matt hooked up a syringe to the oil port and sucked out what was left... nothing.  Alfie was dry.

And that is how I came to be singlespeeding at Vegas.

After kitting up, we rode straight up to the shuttle pick up.  It was a little brisk in the forest today, but nothing a bit of riding shouldn't fix.  A bumpy ride in the bus to the top of the hill sure beat the other option of riding (pushing) up.  Jeff Carter is a genius - well done that man!  Our first track of the day was Jumps (meh), then Corners (Mmmm, nice).  I found I couldn't get my flow on Jumps, but it may just be a case of riding it more and learning which jumps are the right jumps to pop and which should be pumped.  I followed Megan down so I had the right pace and didn't unwittingly overcook it. An apprehensive Vicki followed not too far behind me.  Sifty and cruisey were the flavours of the day.  Before we got into Corners, I changed my rear brake pads.  The Juice Lubes "Brake Juice" disc brake cleaner stuff I had tried to revive the pads with had not worked.  So, the new pads went in and off we went.  Corners was sweet and flowed a lots nicer than Jumps - maybe I just don't really like jumps that much.  My brakes started to bed in after the first section of corners and I started to ride with a little more confidence.

Shuttle #2 was really bumpy (don't sit in the back of the bus!), then we backtracked down the road (freeEEEezing 51.3km/hr downhill which would have been faster and colder if we hadn't had to slow down when we caught up to and passed the bus) and went up Moerangi Road, onto Loop Road and towards Split Enz.  The ride up the road wasn't too bad, at least not the part I walked.  At about 650m above seal level we stopped for more food and obligatory photos, then got into the trail.  Vicki had certainly found her flow and was riding really well.  Some boys had advised us that it was "rough".  Um, no.  You got that wrong.  Split Enz was smooth and flowy with an outstanding view.  It's a perfect piece of trail and I loved it.  I think it's my new favourite.

A gaggle of bikes before the giggliest trail.

Thumbs up!
 (Stolen from Farcebook, thanks Megan)

Ta da!

We continued on into more of the best trails in the forest - Pondy DH, Pondy New, and Rollercoaster.  Some tricky bits, awesome downhill bits, short uphill bits, rocks, roots... all of it fantastic.

A short ride up Ring Road, onto Hill Road (a quick chat to Helen and Dean about to embark on Shuttle #3 or 4 for the day) and then up Pipeline Road.  The first bit isn't too bad, but it sure does have a kick at the end.  I must have made it only a quarter of the way up the steep bit before opting for a 'strategic walk'.  We were headed for Be Rude Not 2 and I wanted to save my legs for the last descent.  The new Rude is nothing like the Rude of old.  I felt a bit disappointed while riding it, because I had expected more and possibly because I was a bit tired and every bump was felt through my whole body.  I think the answer is to ride it more often. Simple, really.

After a stop for some jelly snakes it was on through Mad If You Don't and Ball and Chain back to the car.  I was done.  Tired, hungry, thirsty, and happy as.

We hadn't quite had enough excitement for the day though, so I promptly flattened the battery on the car by leaving the keys in the ignition and the lights in the "on" position. Even though the ignition was switched off, because the keys were in it, the lights were on.  15-20 minutes later when a small shower came through and I tried to put the windows back up... ruh-roh!  We asked around, found some jumper leads, and a friendly MTBer jumped my car off Vicki's car (thanks!!).  Home time.

My calendar is looking pretty busy from now until about February, but I sure hope I can wedge a few rides in.  I am planning to do something for the Longest Day Ride, although I will ride on the day before because that's the day Oliver and Ella are at preschool.  This will make it the Day Before The 'Longest Day Ride' Ride. I did it last year and felt quite a sense of achievement, even if my bike computer didn't reach triple digits.   The aim of the exercise is to raise awareness and funds for Arthritis New Zealand, and have bucketloads of fun (and/or character building experiences) doing it.  You should do it too.