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!
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