5 times up Mt Vic this lunchtime, one from Mein St in Newtown, 2 from the bays, and 2 from the Hataitai side of the bus tunnel. About 850m of climbing over 19km, in 1h05.

Went for a great ride on Saturday which I've been meaning to write up. Did 130km, on the quietest roads ever, and managed to string together four of Wellington's coolest (read steep and technical) descents. Any guesses? [edit: starting Karori, finishing Lower Hutt @ Waterloo Station ]

Makara Road, Moonshine Road, Paekakariki Hill and the Akatarawas?

Not sure what direction on the last 3.

3/4

Blue Mountains

Colin beat me to it. Out with Makara Road, in with Blue Mountains.

way_downsouth wrote:Colin beat me to it. Out with Makara Road, in with Blue Mountains.

3/4

Colin's correct though

I had a bit of a late start on Saturday, after taking out the RBNZ music quiz the night before with team Quiz in my pants

I hit the road at 1pm, rode slowly up the Karori side of Makara Hill before bombing down the other side (#1). I barely saw a car on the way through to Johnsonville, and then enjoyed the gradual descent and southerly tail wind through Tawa to Porirua. SH1 for a bit, with a nice big shoulder to ride in, and I carried on round to Plimmerton to avoid the shitty stretch around past Whitby. Over Gray's Rd, then hung a left into Paekakariki Hill road. It felt a bit weird at the bottom doing a U-turn and riding back up the hill, but the descent (#2) was worth it.

I stopped briefly at Pauatahanui for a coffee and a muffin - only the second time I'd come to a complete stop on the ride (the first being at the traffic lights in Plimmerton). A few minutes later I was riding again, only to be stopped by a puncture. I replaced the tube, then got going again. Rather than go over the Haywards, I turned left into Moonshine Valley. The climb is beautiful through there even with memories of a magpie attack from a couple of years ago. Descent (#3) was cool, and I had the delight to watch a local ride the bottom (flatter) section no-handed on his MTB. Nice work!

Over the River Rd brigde, I took the first right to cross the Hutt Valley. Up Wallaceville and into Whiteman's Valley. It was interesting to note on the altitude profile of my Garmin Edge how elevated you are at that point in the valley. I had to stop a couple of times to deal with pressure issues in my rear tyre, before finally patching it... The Blue Mountains descent (#4) was lovely, but by this stage it was about 6pm and I was starting to get anxious about the light. I'd planned to ride back to Wellington, but decided to catch a train instead.

I didn't cross the Silverstream bridge, and instead took the road down the western side of the Hutt. Just after Stokes Valley I heard a train and pulled up along side a station just as it arrived. I realised I didn't have enough time to get through the subway to it, so started hammering south, hoping I could beat it to the next station... Alas, the road kept getting further from the line, before turning back towards it, and the train was already at the next station. The next was worse - it was just leaving - at which point I sat up, and cruised to Waterloo Station. Thanks to the Bledisloe Cup test at the stadium, the next train was not far behind!

One of the nicest road rides I've ever been on. Incredibly quiet roads, some killer descents, and a decent amount of climbing. 129.1km on the speedo, 1500m climbing, and about 4h50 riding time.

88.8kg on the scales this morning... It's starting to come off already...

Nice work John.

I am looking to see your 'training' plan for Kiwi Brevet.

Nice work, John!

Dates are Saturdays:

12/9 MTBO (check, disastrous!))
19/9 120km (check)
---
26/9 150km
3/10 (WVCC Featherston ride - the girls are away, so I'm contemplating riding over on Friday evening, riding somewhere nice on Saturday, 80km funride on Sunday, then back over the hill and train from Upper Hutt... - or something like that).
10/10 perhaps B grade race Eastbourne - Wainui?
17/10 80km (midnight century earlier in the week, probably Tuesday night after work, 160km finishing around 12)
24/10 350km (350.org's International Day of Action)
31/10 0km (still sleeping)
7/11 Martinborough fun ride?
14/11 200km+ (New Plymouth to Ohakune via the Forgotten Highway. Friday evening to Stratford, Saturday as far as we can cope with before calling the Waaambulance...)
21/11 Speedwork?
28/11 200km (Taupo with the family. 40km from house at Motuoapa to Taupo, first leg at race pace, 120km with Dad, Sis and Bro back to Taupo).
5/12 Makara Peak Rally
12/12 MTBO?
19/12 Mangaone Walkway?
26/12 ?
2/1 ?
9/1 ?
16/1 WVCC 2 Day Tour?
23/1 ?
30/1 Akatarawa Attack (8 hour MTBO)
6/2 Kiwi Brevet

Aiming to do at least a couple of hard rides per week. Currently at 5x up Mt Vic, aiming for 10 repeats at steady pace.
Will probably start doing a tip track or two a month from November.
Will aim to do an overnight tramp in January (need the legs for Ak Attack)
Wouldn't mind doing the ride Monolith did a month or so back at some point (Wainui, Belmont etc)
5/6 Peaks time trial ride?
Big Coast?
etc etc...

Oli wrote:Nice work, John!

Chur! I must say I looked resplendent in Roadworks bibs, jersey AND arm warmers on Saturday...

Wow, that's quite a schedule you're working out bro!

Oli wrote::blush:

Wow, that's quite a schedule you're working out bro!

it's so good to be able to enjoy riding again. Steady as she goes...!

Good that you got your zing back man.

sifter wrote:19/12 Mangaone Walkway?

As a loop ?

http://www.vorb.org.nz/reikorangi-churc ... ml#p571844

It's a lovely ride, with just a bit hour or two scambling around slips in the middle.

Colin wrote:Good that you got your zing back man.

sifter wrote:19/12 Mangaone Walkway?

As a loop ?

reikorangi-church-church-t29767.html#p571844

It's a lovely ride, with just a bit hour or two scambling around slips in the middle.

That's it! Thanks for the link Colin