Timber Trail

Riding the Timber Trail in March was a great pre-wedding anniversary weekend away for Tom and I.  It was a beautiful, social ride, through a variety of country side.  The first morning saw a decent climb through beautiful bush, followed by a nice flowing descent.  At the top, the call of a trig station less than an hours walk away was too great, and I found myself stomping along in cycle shoes to the top with Tom and Chris.

It struck me about 15 minutes into the walk, that I had committed myself to not only keeping up with these boys on the walk, but managing the rest of the days riding and catching up with the rest of the crew who had continued on bikes.

Brilliant to bag a trig - and some nice views also.

The next hour or so's riding was fairly intense though, with both Tom and Chris being fit, male, and  competitive.  Initially we were just ticking along, but then one of them zoomed up behind the other on a downhill, and then it was race on.  A low key race, and I'm sure they'd say they were just riding, but they resembled a couple of boisterous puppies rarking each other up in sections.  This left me, pushing consistently hard, trying to keep up and catch up.  One classic moment with Tom in the front saw him heading for a track, before realising it was actually a drain and he was about to miss a corner.  Brakes squealing, he couldn't recover, into the ditch, for Chris to take the corner and take off.




While the riding was great, possibly this trip will be remembered for dinner?  Will definitely travel with Manu, Chris, Kate and Duncan again, although I may need masterchef lessons first.  Intake was definitely more than enough fuel for the second days riding.  :) 

Day two saw a lot more gravel road cycling, not quite as interesting as the first day, and a more gentle rhythm to ease ourselves into.  Surprisingly, getting back on my bike wasn't as painful as I thought it might be, the legs felt fairly fresh and the seat still had some cushioning!

Gorgeous bush covered valleys with these amazing suspension bridges in the middle of nowhere.  Unfortunately, my fear of heights dictates that I ride these bridges with my eyes resolutely on the wheel in front, no looking into the vortex for me!  Ongarue spiral was also very impressive,

Brilliant ride, I'll go back again for this one. 

Moerangi - Epic!

Moerangi!  Manu says this is her favourite NZ bush ride, and she's done so many, I knew it would be a goody.

 The DOC website says "For the passionate mountain biker the track has earned itself a reputation as a 'must do' track. With 35 km of challenging single track and 1000 m of climbing it's a ride that demands respect but also offers rich rewards - what goes up inevitably comes down!"



 Tom dropped the two of us off at the trail end, prepared for an epic day.  Armed for adventure, we ride onto a narrow bush lined track and hit the most awkward, steep, stepped MTB trail in the history of mankind.  We persevere for all of 90 m (I know, I checked the Garmin) before we were off and pushing our bikes.  Nerves immediately set in about what we've signed up for, this could be a very long day if it's all like this.  As a result, I ride very carefully for the next hour or so, over anxious and not wanting to hurt myself, knowing that this is the middle of nowhere and it's a long walk home.

But once I warm up, and relax, crikey, what a ride!  It's hard to explain.  The bush is just so stunning, land of the dinosaurs pristine.  We cross flowing rivers, and stop on the bridge to gaze down into another world.  We see and hear birds everywhere kereru, and even Kaka, Manu said.  Quaint kiwi tramping huts, decorated with deer antlers and family plaques punched into the lid of their baked beans cans provide our stopping places for a snack. 

It's easy to feel adventurous, in another time or place, where the forest holds the power, and we visit for a fleeting moment.

The riding, you ask?  It's very varied, quite a bit of climbing, but nothing which really leaches the life force out of you.  Some fun little windy bits, mostly smooth rolling and friendly to ride.  It's a two way track, in an unknown place, so we're mostly taking it easy, miss a corner and go down a bank and it won't be pretty.   Short downhills and interspersed with quick tough climbs, but fmuch of it feels either gently climbing or gently falling.  For the most part, the bike is a means to an end, to experience this beautiful place and imagine we're the only people within 100km.  Of course, we're not, and we run into a few other groups, but there's plenty of space for all of us. 



Sometimes, Manu and I ride along in silence, just soaking it all up, no need to chat.  Other times we'll put some speed in and give a little squeal as a tricky root or catches us unawares.  There's also the odd hoot or whoop or joy.  :)    A couple of climbs, we're focussed on our work, pedals grinding.  The final summit is not half as bad as we expect, to the point where the first km of downhill, we don't let loose as we're expecting it to start climbing again. 

Realisation sets in, and before we know it, we're racing downhill.  It's a beautiful extended fall, so obviously we have made more height than it feels like.  While we don't want a head on collision, there are enough open pieces of track to get some speed up and go for it.  The track is mostly smooth, but with occasional nasty rutted bits which heighten the senses and have me hanging on, trying to choose the best line.  Some nasty pinch climbs catch us unaware, trying to carry our speed in, thighs burning, trying to choose the best line.  I fail a couple of times, and end up hitting the deck at slow speeds. 

Back to the car park in 5 hours.  Tired but happy, I could do that again!