Today 5 of us pushed our bikes 1500 vertical metres to the top of mount Roy in Wanaka, then along a ridgeline to climb another 100 vertical metres to get to the top of Mt Alpha(1630m asl).

When then ate our subway. We then enjoyed watching a helicopter arrive with 3 bikers who probably paid about $400 to get a ride up the hill :P

We then proceeded to enjoy one and a half hours of DH along singletrack ridgelines, and a couple of flat tyres later we made it to the bottom.

It was my first epic downhill and quite possibly my last, pushing my 20kg bottlerocket up a very steep hill was not a lot of fun!

With the addition of a morning "race" at the Makara Peak Rally up Koru and down Lazy Fern, Katy decided that she might like to try out her own bike on this loop. Despite the drizzle this afternoon, as soon as we got home from school, preparations were under way.

We cruised down the footpath on South Karori Rd, and I adjusted Katy's gears at the shelter (she's on a 7 speed 20" Avanti that weighs a ton!). The climb up Koru was difficult, but not for the reasons I imagined. Katy coped really well with any descending, and also with the narrow parts of the track, but not so well with the steepness, and the consistency of the effort required. We stopped often to get our breaths back!

This was an unscheduled stop!

Finally we got up to the Skills Area, and Katy had a good sit down while I did a lap of the structures, switchbacks, and the little drop.

The top section of Koru was going great - it was sometimes nerve-wracking watching Katy from behind. She negotiated the first twisty section through the mahoe beautifully, and then disaster struck!!!! The photo shows two lines - can you tell which is the track, and which is Katy's chosen line?

Well, it turns out a small prang ain't no thang, and we headed off down Lazy Fern. Kaitlyn's control was getting better and better, and though the bridges were no issue, the switchbacks were more of a challenge. She got round two OK, with feet typically off the pedals, but the others inevitably ended up with the front wheel locking up.

All in all a great ride, and the first of many after school loops for the two of us

Spokey Dokeys - cooolll!!!!

Looks like she is going Awesome - fast enought to be crashing anyway!!!

PS: the kick stand's last stand was shown in one of the photos. It's about the only thing I can think of getting rid of to lighten it up. Maybe a bigger cassette's in order too...

sifter wrote: PS: the kick stand's last stand was shown in one of the photos. It's about the only thing I can think of getting rid of to lighten it up. Maybe a bigger cassette's in order too...

Better not let her see this then mate

http://www.vorb.org.nz/ftopict-89571.html

thelivo wrote:

sifter wrote: PS: the kick stand's last stand was shown in one of the photos. It's about the only thing I can think of getting rid of to lighten it up. Maybe a bigger cassette's in order too...

Better not let her see this then mate

http://www.vorb.org.nz/ftopict-89571.html

I saw that the other day. I wonder how much travel the wee fella gets out of the front. I'd be amazed if they make much of a difference to his ride quality, but am certain they carry a huge weight penalty! Mint bike tho!

Great write up and photos sifter I always enjoy reading about the trips you two do.

hotline

Astoria Paranoia wrote:

hotline

Nice call!

Cheers XCguy

I done rode a bunch o suff yesters, inclusde my first crack at T3, in an uphill direction, which was a mistake, how the Fook does one ride that rock trench!!!!!!!!!?

The Ratchet Canyon? Carefully !!

sifter wrote: Well, it turns out a small prang ain't no thang, and we headed off down Lazy Fern. Kaitlyn's control was getting better and better, and though the bridges were no issue, the switchbacks were more of a challenge. She got round two OK, with feet typically off the pedals, but the others inevitably ended up with the front wheel locking up.

All in all a great ride, and the first of many after school loops for the two of us

Absolutely awesome, Sifter. You are a World Champion Dad with an incredibly game daughter. Great stuff!