Warm Springs shuttle

Big ride today.  Big ride.  Why? 

It was going to really test my elbows...It was the first ride what that wasn’t short’ish, also we were going to start at the top of the Warm Springs ski area, and the majority of the ride was going to be descending.  We ended up descending 1500 vertical metres, 4500 feet.  That’s not trivial.  We also climbed 500m vertical….500m, so what, you say.  The climbing was all done at an altitude of over 2000m (6000 feet) though – I’ve never been higher than ~1600m at Mt Buller, so the altitude was challenging.

The ride started at an elevation of 2426m.  High.

We had a great group of peeps who are all friends of Chad and Tracey (Chad’s wife).  Speaking of the devils, here they are.

As it turns out, Tracey has the same bike as mine, also in black (though hers doesn’t have the silver finishing touches that makes mine the stallion of a bike that it is (silver & stallion…..don’t try and make sense of that – just go with it *coughs*).

Here’s Tracey bombing down towards the end of the ride.

Sean and Jenny also rode.  Sean was really helpful to me regarding what to look for and who to talk to regarding buying a used Subaru – his invaluable hints helped me sort the wheat from the chaff.  This ride was their 1-year wedding anniversary – thanks for sharing it!

At the end of the ride Jenny’s parting words were “let’s ride again”.  Her comment symbolizes the community spirit and inclusiveness that I’ve felt here.   Also riding was Rob, but I can’t show you his face because he’s a dentist (sorry for that joke *laughs*) … for my non-Australian readers, this is a reference to a TV commercial.  Our final rider was Cameron, he was always up the front, so I don’t have any pics of him.

Here are some pics of the ride.

...some easy double-track at the start

...ridge-line singletrack, that isn't always as easy as it looks

...scree, i like scree

...more singletrack

...more singletrack, so good!

...some of the views along the way

There were some magnificent wooded, almost rainforest like areas along the way, but alas I either didn't stop to take photo's, or they didn't come out well.

Thanks to Tracey for taking some pics of me...

This doesn't look like it, but it's a steep final section of the hill...and the thin air make climbing difficult. I pedalled as far as I could, then stopped for a breather.

My elbows didn't give my any grief while I was riding, but after the ride and today my left elbow, the one that wasn't as much of an issue, is now letting me know it's there...hopefully it doesn't doesn't get any worse.

Back in the day

Words not required, well, perhaps just a few!

You'll probably be familiar with this setting, I can't get enough of it.  It hit me last night when I was loitering in the garage with Chad's family (post ride) that I should take a few pics of Chad's father in law's magnificent historic Chev.

Some scenic pics from yesterday. Warning: contains storm and sunset content.

Just hanging around

I've been back here in Hamilton since late Tuesday night, and it's been great.  Chad and his incredibly generous family have offered me the use of their camper van - an offer that I gratefully accepted.

I'll be here until Wednesday morning, when I head off to Colorado to do a skills course on Saturday in Boulder at Valmont Bike Park.

I did my first "proper" MTB ride on Wednesday night in the Blodgett Canyon.  According to Wikipedia: Blodgett Canyon is located in southwestern Montana in the northwestern United States. It is one of more than two dozen scenic canyons deeply carved into the eastern flanks of the Bitterroot Range in Bitterroot National Forest.  

I'll write a separate post with some pics for this.  It was awesome though - very, very rocky and technical.   My elbows are't really making themselves known, beyond a few sensations.  Touch wood and fingers crossed.

I've had fun times hanging out at the Red Barn (Chad's shop) with him and his crew.  I've also had great fun with his family and kids.

What's that pink in the background?

There's a LOT of cool bikes in the family and at the 'Barn.  My beard is looking GREAT!

The kids fixed this bad-boy of a bike this morning, so I test rode it...  Notice my beard.

...and did a little maintenance.  Nice bike.  Unfortunately my beard is obscured.

That pink bike has a real turn of speed

And here's Sam.