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A group of eleven riders assembled outside the Racer’s Edge on Ardmore Street on Saturday morning, eager to get the long weekend’s riding underway.
We decided to head up to Sticky Forest. It’s called Sticky Forest as there are tons of sticks – literally! (although not too many on the tracks themselves). You can buy a map for $2 from the Mountain Bikes Unlimited bike shop (to the rear of the Racer’s Edge shop) which has most of the tracks marked – there are some that have been built since and we saw plenty of evidence to suggest the track builders are not finished yet. The map is worth $2 just for the names of the tracks – G-Spot, Venus, Sick Boy, Tunnel of Love, Crankin’ Fine, Sesame Street, Lower Peroxide…. We rode up Hoe Down – nice climb to warm into it. Then we scooted along Easy Street (the main ridge track which everything either joins or crosses) to Venus. Venus is a fabulous downhill track with berms and tight turns and swoopy bits and, if by the time you reach the bottom, you are not smiling, you are not a mountain biker! Then up Cranking Fine – numerous switchbacks and of course the famous spiral switchback complete with Consequences Bridge. Off to Sick Boy – grinning madly. Up the Tunnel of Love – down the dual slalom track, back up the Tunnel of Love. Back to Venus – back up Cranking Fine and off to the café for lunch as the storm clouds were brewing and starting to spit at us. Gusto Café on the corner of Lakeside Drive and Ardmore Street – has the best coffee and the food is to die for. We were all eyeing each other’s plates and deciding what we would order next time! The weather cleared up enough for some more riding for a few in the afternoon, while others booked a place for dinner and went out to Puzzle World – worth a visit as they have tables with lots of puzzles and it’s a good place to while away an hour or two. The illusion rooms and the maze are good value. Dinner at Amigos was fab! Good service, great food, cheerful atmosphere. On Sunday we reassembled at the same meeting place. Fuelled by coffee we headed up to the plantation again. The weather was fantastic – not a cloud in the sky. We split into two groups – one group went with Rick and worked on the art of throwing yourself around switchbacks while leaning forward, the other group went off riding in search of uncharted tracks. We met back at Gusto for lunch, which was just as good as the previous day. We explored the Outlet track in the afternoon and took on some spectacular views across the lake. Dinner was enjoyed at the Thai restaurant. On Monday, we packed our bags and drove back to Christchurch, with Mt Cook clear and visible as we passed. We’ll be back next year – if not before. Photos & article Cath Parr |
