WMCC Riverhead Forest trail ride, Sunday 14 December

[vazza]

Sounds great! Seu there

[Crisis management]

Right, that was character building then....I have well and truly popped my Riverhead cherry...

I was there at 9 and probably managed to fall off the bike by at least 10 past, it was a bit wet and slippery and I spent the first lap trying to go fast enough to clear the mud out of the treads, lowering tyre pressures and any other desperate measure I could find to gain traction.
I assume we did the "expert" loop as it was the only track I could find and there seemed to be people less covered I mud than me which leads me to think there were easier loops hidden somewhere. Apart from the lack of traction, steering and general stability it was a great combination of single track, ascents and descents, loamy soil, mud (did I mention the mud?) and gravel roads. I didn't particularly see the scenery as I was a bit focused on near death experiences but i'm assured by others that it was quite striking.
The tracks dried out over the day and became more manageable but after 3 circuits (I think about 18km loops) I was completely knackered and surrendered.
The score was something like about a gazillion lie downs, once upside down in the gorse, several killer tree roots taking out the front and one tee bone of a tree. I can still walk and the bike is undamaged (the benefits of lying down under the bike to protect it).

Good ride Waitemata club, but who ate all the sausages? By the time we got to lunch there weren't any left and that was only 1ish!!!

[Danger]

Wasn't me....honest I stayed away from the BBQ!
To be fair, that was a pretty easy ride for Riverhead and I suspect they shortened the track a fair bit due to the early morning rain. Was very slippery the first loop and lost the front end once trying to avoid another rider in a off camber corner and once on the second loop when not paying attention around a berm and over shot it. Short loop and fun but I was already tired after a month of no riding and then riding Friday and kayaking all day Saturday so only did 4 or 5 loops.
Thanks to the Waitemata Club for all the events this year. Didn't get to attend too many but hope to get to more of them next year.

[Crisis management]

To be fair, that was a pretty easy ride for Riverhead ......

I can see the potential in the place, and it was great to get tight tracks and a decent variety of terrain to learn on, I need to get my ride fitness up and learn how to maintain a bit more pace...short answer, ride more! Anyway, now I know what to expect I'll be back for more but I better get back out to Woodhill in the interim and get my speed back up.