Kah wrote: Yeah, found that out the hard way. Chased for about 5 minutes, then caught the bunch at some roadworks just before the roundabouts.

Cool people, except for a sneaky breakaway on Happy Valley Road.

oh shit Kah! My bad

sifter wrote:

Kah wrote: Yeah, found that out the hard way. Chased for about 5 minutes, then caught the bunch at some roadworks just before the roundabouts.

Cool people, except for a sneaky breakaway on Happy Valley Road.

oh shit Kah! My bad

i went for a easy ride at lunch.. treating this week as a rest week. so deliberatly stayed away from you sifter @ Freburg bunch!

sifter wrote:

Kah wrote: Yeah, found that out the hard way. Chased for about 5 minutes, then caught the bunch at some roadworks just before the roundabouts.

Cool people, except for a sneaky breakaway on Happy Valley Road.

oh shit Kah! My bad

All good. You were not missed today going up Happy Valley from what I kept hearing.

Kah wrote:

sifter wrote:

Kah wrote: Yeah, found that out the hard way. Chased for about 5 minutes, then caught the bunch at some roadworks just before the roundabouts.

Cool people, except for a sneaky breakaway on Happy Valley Road.

oh shit Kah! My bad

All good. You were not missed today going up Happy Valley from what I kept hearing.

From the "what the hell were we thinking file"...

benw and I had pencilled in a ride for Monday morning. After quite a bit of shite weather in Wellington, the forecast didn't actually look too bad - something about showers, and although it was always going to be cold, we were both itching to get out.

The sun came out at about 10, just long enough for us to commit to going. No sooner was Ben on the road, but the sun went away, and it started to get wet again. He arrived at work around 11, we smiled at our matching outfits (nice new Makara Peak Supporters jerseys from Ultimo), and then headed off towards the Hutt. We enjoyed the tail wind, and were able to maintain 43km/h along SH2. We pulled off at Petone, headed toward Wainui.

Shortly after a quick stop for Ben to get rid of his skull-cap, we started one of the most unpleasant climbs I've done in a while. I'm not sure whether it was the initial steepness of Wainui hill, or its duration, or the fact that I couldn't work out whether to ride at Ben's pace or my own, or the cold, but I got to the top very glad it was over. I have a score to settle with that hill, that's for sure.

After a breather at the top, we descended into the valley. Ben had quite a bit of trouble with his sinuses, as the temperature dropped a few degrees. I guess I'm used to rolling into Karori... Despite the cold and wet, it was great to finally be able to ride two abreast, and catch up with life. Soon though, I felt the arse end of my bike going mushy, and had to stop to fix a puncture.

At this point, the ride changed from "getting out" to "getting home". I ended up getting my black gloves filthy from all the crud off the road, which I then transferred onto my beautiful white grip tape We also discovered that we didn't have time to get down to the coast and get Ben back to Miramar in time to pick up his son from school. So we turned around, and rode back into town. Interestingly the Southerly wasn't worth as much as I had suspected, and we managed to cruise at 37km/h back to Ngauranga. We ended up sifting at Roadworks for a bit, where Oli tried to impress upon me the importance of bike cleaning. Ben got back to school in time, and we both eventually warmed up.

As always, it was damn good to get out. Cheers Ben Maybe next Monday it will be warmer and/or drier.

sifter wrote:As always, it was damn good to get out. Cheers Ben Maybe next Monday it will be warmer and/or drier.

Yeah good ride although it took me most of the rest of the day to feel warm again. My bike is filthy but I did just clean the drive train. It feels even colder today but I am still going to head out for the lunch ride.

The curses of white bar tape.

james wrote: The curses of white bar tape.

Sifter was actually going to take his gloves off in Wainui to stop further marking of the bars. He would have had to have his fingers removed by the time we got back to wellington if he had

james wrote: The curses of white bar tape.

Cleaned up well though, just like Oli said it would. Laundry powder and clean tea towel

Second Monday in a row that benw and I got nailed by the Southerly! He collected me from work at 8am. I'd left home just after half six without my Ground Effect Vespa so was feeling a bit chilly. We crusied out to Ngaio Gorge, then went up this incredibly funky old wagon track! There were a few cars surprised to see us, but the road itself was very cool. I didn't catch the name, but we turned right onto it just after the old Turners auctions site.

it was cold though the burbs, and very cold dropping down into Ohariu Valley. Great riding though, and great conversation. We hit a sunny spot surrounded by frosty paddocks, and Ben stopped for a leak while I got stuck into an apple. As we turned South towards Makara Village, we got our first glimpse of some rather ominous black clouds. Soon we were admiring a rainbow, and soon after that we were getting wet. The climb up Makara Road was fine - the rain wasn't too heavy and we were working.

By the time we got into Karori, the temperature had dropped a bit, we were wetter, and doing much less work. By the time I arrived at work 15 minutes later, I was frozen to the core. A quick change, and then straight down stairs to Sweet Fanny Anne's for a large cafe latte and a bowl of porridge. I'm feeling a bit better now, still not capable of doing any work though...

sifter wrote: Second Monday in a row that benw and I got nailed by the Southerly! He collected me from work at 8am. I'd left home just after half six without my Ground Effect Vespa so was feeling a bit chilly. We crusied out to Ngaio Gorge, then went up this incredibly funky old wagon track! There were a few cars surprised to see us, but the road itself was very cool. I didn't catch the name, but we turned right onto it just after the old Turners auctions site.

Old Porirua Road is the name of that first climb, good work out for the lungs early in the ride :-)

sifter wrote:it was cold though the burbs, and very cold dropping down into Ohariu Valley. Great riding though, and great conversation. We hit a sunny spot surrounded by frosty paddocks, and Ben stopped for a leak while I got stuck into an apple. As we turned South towards Makara Village, we got our first glimpse of some rather ominous black clouds. Soon we were admiring a rainbow, and soon after that we were getting wet. The climb up Makara Road was fine - the rain wasn't too heavy and we were working.

By the time we got into Karori, the temperature had dropped a bit, we were wetter, and doing much less work. By the time I arrived at work 15 minutes later, I was frozen to the core. A quick change, and then straight down stairs to Sweet Fanny Anne's for a large cafe latte and a bowl of porridge. I'm feeling a bit better now, still not capable of doing any work though...

It's a good thing you're going to be away next Monday. On current trends it could end in hypothermia. I actually welcomed the warmth of the Mt Victoria Tunnel on the way home and my toes started to defrost. Cold again on Cobham Drive and then the Southerly at my back as I shot up to home.

Next time I am wearing bread bags on the feet and I might have to take the Krank winter riding gloves in my pocket.

Aside from the toes and fingers it was a good ride, not too cold since I had 2x the layers on that you did. I am sure you'll get the feeling back in your nipples eventually.

sifter wrote: Second Monday in a row that benw and I got nailed by the Southerly! He collected me from work at 8am. I'd left home just after half six without my Ground Effect Vespa so was feeling a bit chilly. We crusied out to Ngaio Gorge, then went up this incredibly funky old wagon track! There were a few cars surprised to see us, but the road itself was very cool. I didn't catch the name, but we turned right onto it just after the old Turners auctions site.

Is this Old Porirua Rd? Great little hill for repeats, pretty steep in parts near the bottom. I usually go up Old Porirua Rd and then down Ngaio Gorge.

I still haven't warmed up. The coffee and porridge afterglow was just temporary... I am now looking forward to the pie and soup afterglow, and crossing my fingers it is permanent...

sifter wrote: I still haven't warmed up. The coffee and porridge afterglow was just temporary... I am now looking forward to the pie and soup afterglow, and crossing my fingers it is permanent...

A good hearty pie has warmed many a cyclist's soul.

Tugboat wrote:

sifter wrote: I still haven't warmed up. The coffee and porridge afterglow was just temporary... I am now looking forward to the pie and soup afterglow, and crossing my fingers it is permanent...

A good hearty pie has warmed many a cyclist's soul.

and worked wonders for their insulation too no doubt