Holden on Saturday cont...

Holden

Even though its on my doorstep, I never seem to get up here. BUt rising fuel costs are forcing me to look for trail gold on my doorstep.

Ben and Phil loaded up the van and within 15 minutes we were unloading at Holden carpark, sweet.

5 minutes after that we were hammering down the newly rebuilt Rat Run and I have to say I feel it's a vast improvement than the older versions. The top section flows, there's places to jump if you want, or not if you're less confident. They were doing work there at times, but the Rangers said it's open when I asked. Later in the day someone took a tumble and the Air Ambulance was called, hope they're alright.

After a rocky section you hit a few berms and then its a sweet little section that lets you practice carrying your speed over rough sections(atleast it does if you have a super low BB like the Goose or Mini DH!).

We legged it down the fire road to the alternative red run start and blasted off down the berms. The first few berms b4 the uphill section are close to perfect, especially if you fire into them flat out.

The uphill bit in the middle's a bit of a downer, and the lower berms aren't quite as good, but it still makes a very satisfying run. We ran this track a few times b4 Ben got his first of several pinch flats.

Then we tried out the new shore section it's short, it's not finished, but it's fun, well built and ends in a dropoff at the mo.

Andy arrives(he's only an hour late, not bad for him)

I tried the new 3 pack next to it and stacked into the side of the bank(not the jump for once), they look alright, I know they've been getting a bit of a slagging recently, but they're much better now than last time I saw them(good work guys).

Bumped into Tom K and Anna who was out testing her new bike(looked sweet), Tom demonstrated a new jump he'd discovered, styled it(apparently just before we got there he'd jumped up the bank and bounced off the tree back down!)

Lunchtime now and a quick trip to Alphington reunited Andy and I with an old friend from our 2003 Euro trip, Lidl's Tiger energy drink.

Short break, quick stop at Partridge Cycles(lots of bargains on Giant, GT, Kona and Mongoose bikes), then up to Holden's underground trails up at the Cafe side.

It's big up here, we played on the smaller stuff and ragged it down the Wall of Death a few times, b4 finding a sweet hip to session. I need all the practice in the air I can get. And we stayed here until it was time to head home.

Fun day and only 15 miles of driving all day, not bad.

Pictures and video to follow.

Later

Tom KP

29th March

Last Saturday was my 29th birthday, I hadn't planned on celebrating cos I started work at 4am in the morning. But my wonderful girlfriend invited a few friends round for drinks and nibbles.

It was a fun night and I think everyone enjoyed themselves at the chilled affair. Although Andy felt like beating people round the head when they started discussing bathrooms and kitchen units(which always makes enthralling conversation)!

Alice got me a new pack for biking(loving the Camelbak Uproar), my mum bought me some body armour(such a mum thing to buy!), Steve got me a mini Citrus tree(another random Steve present) and Phil found me some knee pads.

Alices parents got me a Next giftcard(a hint that I'm to scruffy maybe? LOL)

Apart from the work I had a great day. Thanks to everyone that came

Puddletown

30th march 2008

Had to visit the dentist's back up my parents way this week, so decided to fit in a little biking while I was up there.

Meet up with my bros Steve, Phil and his mate Rich.
Steve doesn't ride very often, but what he lacks in skill and experience he more than makes up for with balls and ignorance of consequences!

Rich was trying out his new Astrix Havoc(I thought my bike was heavy).

Puddletown was the destination of the day. Being nice and sandy it tends to dry pretty quickly.

Started off with a few jumps by the car, unfortunately all the best jumps had super tacky mud at the foot of the takeoff.

Found a massive road gap, although I don't think it's finished, no run out or run in. But it was MASSIVE!
And some pretty big ladder drops.

Then we headed over to Sleepy Hollows for spin, found it to be in serious need of repair, wobbly, wet, broken in places, still gave it a bash though.

The trail below there is sweet, usually flows perfectly, berms, whoops dips and pump bumps, it's just like a Mini DH pump track. Today it seemed full of ponds! We all got soaked, but it was still great fun. New 5. 10s are much drier than my originals(if not quite as comfy yet.

Found some huge shonky shore by the BMX jumps(see pictures attached).

The next area we played at was a big table, you fly down a steep bank and launch off the lip, it's fairly safe, and a great place to build confidence. Steve started off looking shonky, but was soon charging down the run in and hitting it up. Not bad for a guy who hasn't tried jumping since we were about 13(15 years ago!).

Phil and Rich were hitting it up like only youngsters can. As usually it took me a few to get my eye in(I'm not a natural jumper)before we were all clearing it with ease. Rich and Phil proceeded to start experimenting with whips and flatties.

Finally we blasted down the single track to the car and headed home for tea.